Nexon says The First Descendant’s real problem is deeper than a patch
Junghun Lee told investors the looter shooter had a strong launch but failed to keep players around, and that problem needs structural changes rather than a quick fix.
The First Descendant came out swinging last July, but Nexon’s own leadership now says the game could not hold that early momentum. In a recent capital markets briefing to investors, CEO Junghun Lee said the looter shooter had “no staying power” and that the issue runs deeper than anything a normal update can solve.
The company’s presentation grouped The First Descendant with Dungeon & Fighter Mobile under a slide label: “What Did Not Work.” Lee said Dungeon & Fighter Mobile “lost its way” after launch because “the retention mechanics weren’t strong enough to hold players long-term,” and he drew the same line to The First Descendant, calling it a case of “strong launch, no staying power.”
He was even more direct about what comes next: “These are design issues that are not fixed with a patch,” Lee said. “They require structural changes to game mechanics.” The briefing did not lay out a dedicated long-term plan for The First Descendant, which leaves the game’s next step unclear.
The timing makes the comment sting a bit more. Nexon had said last July that The First Descendant pulled in 10 million players in its first week, but that early surge did not translate into lasting engagement. The game also carries a mixed user rating on Steam, which has been the case since launch.
If you want more context on how Nexon has been talking about its broader lineup, this earlier look at Junghun Lee’s comments on ARC Raiders shows how often the publisher has been framing its hits and misses in the same investor-facing conversations. Nexon’s briefing is available on its investor relations page.
For now, The First Descendant sounds like a game that needs more than balance tweaks to win players back. If you have thoughts on Nexon’s take, share them in the comments. You can also follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
The First Descendant
Developed by Nexon Games
Launched in July 2024, The First Descendant is a next-generation third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter featuring high-quality graphics developed using Unreal Engine 5. In the game, players become a Descendant whose mission is to combat against alien invaders – The Vulgus who crossed dimensions over 100 years ago and brought with them the devastating Colossi and destruction– for the survival of humanity and to protect Albion and the continent of Ingris. Players will encounter spectacular stories as they grow stronger through various missions and raids to finally discover the Descendants' secret. Cooperation is crucial as players team up with one another in strategic multiplayer boss fights where teamwork and tactics are key. New equipment, materials, and items obtained through a myriad of missions and boss fights will contribute to players’ character development.
- Genre: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2024-07-02
- Publisher: Nexon Korea
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Age Rating:
ESRB M / GRAC 19+ / ACB M / PEGI 12 / CLASS_IND 12 / USK 16
- IGDB Rating: 59.3/100
