The First Descendant: Everything We Know

NEXON Games’ Project Magnum has come quite a long way since its initial reveal back at Gamescom 2022, that’s for sure. Originally billed as a free-to-play action RPG shooter, the project has now officially transformed into The First Descendant, and is set to hit both consoles and PC in an Open Beta format later this year. So, if you’ve been keeping tabs on the sci-fi shooter since its inception, then you’ll be over the moon to know that it’s finally en route — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated video games of 2023.

So, what more do you need to know about the upcoming online RPG looter shooter? Well, here’s everything we’ve been able to gather on the subject since first hearing of its existence back in 2022. The First Descendant: what is it, really, and when can we expect to get our hands on it? Here’s everything you need to know in 2023.

What Is The First Descendant?

Right, so if we had to break it down into bite-sized chunks, then we’d say The First Descendant, really, is a mixture of Outriders and Gears of War. A third-person shooter with a rich sci-fi aesthetic at heart, the once-known Project Magnum will look to fuse an action-packed world with a classic loot progression system. As such, players can expect to delve into a dynamic world where the endeavors are endless and the rewards are infinite.

In NEXON Games’ own words: “The First Descendant is a free third-person cooperative action RPG shooter featuring high-quality graphics. Experience the fun of strategic boss fights through 4-player co-op and various unique characters, exciting gunplay, and looting. A variety of equipment is necessary for growth, and you can obtain them through clearing scenario missions within the game or in the World Missions where cooperation is crucial and battles with huge bosses.” So, a little bit of Monster Hunter and Remnant: From the Ashes, by the sounds of it.

Going by what’s been said so far, The First Descendant will be free-to-play at launch, and will be available to play across all major platforms. What’s more, it’ll also introduce an Open Beta testing phase later this year, which users can register for between September 19th and September 25th. But more on that shortly.

Story

The First Descendant will take place in a dystopian future—a period in which an alien civilization runs amok and threatens to dismantle the final fragments of humanity. As a Descendant—a powerful warrior with unmatched powers—you will take to the frontline and drive back the enemy, whatever the cost. And if this is all sounding a little too familiar, that’s because it is, more or less, a trope-heavy shooter with all the same bells and whistles as, say, Mass Effect. No complaints, though.

According to the blurb: “The player becomes a Descendant in the game and is given a mission to fight against the invaders for the survival of humans and to protect the ‘Ingris continent’. The player can experience a spectacular story by growing stronger through various missions and stories to finally discover the Descendants' secret. You can also feel the First Descendant’s unique atmosphere through high-quality fields developed with Unreal Engine 5 and gain a new experience of reality and SF fantasy coexisting in one place.” Color us intrigued.

Gameplay

The First Descendant is a 4-player action RPG looter shooter, so you can certainly expect to see your fair share of online multiplayer tropes strewn with a sci-fi coating, basically. But that’s not all it’ll be, apparently; NEXON Games also describe it as being an online shooter with plenty of customizable components, as well as unique characters and skill sets to both adopt and tweak to match the play style.

“Experience the First Descendant’s exciting battles composed of various characters with unique skill sets, free movements, and chain actions through Grappling Hooks, colorful firearms, and additional effects,” the blurb adds. “With these, the player can create any battle style they desire.”

“You can target huge boss monsters with different appearances and abilities through 4 player co-op play,” the blurb continues. “The various difficulties will stimulate your competitive spirit, and you can destroy or extract various parts of the huge bosses through 4-player cooperative play. By targeting the huge boss’s gimmicks, you will be able to experience a more compact team play.”

Development

NEXON Games first lifted the veil on the ARPG a little over a year ago, at which point it was being made on Unreal Engine 4. Since then, the game has not only found its official trademarked title, but also a spot on Unreal Engine 5, too. Needless to say that the project, as a whole, has come an incredibly long way since 2022. If we’re lucky, then we could, in theory, see it reach its final destination by year’s end. That is, of course, providing that the forthcoming Open Beta turns enough heads, anyway.

Trailer

Thanks to the recent ONL 2023 stream, we do actually have some new footage to brush over. However, for the sake of keeping you on tenterhooks, we won’t spoil it all in one common thread. Don’t let us stop you from checking out the latest gameplay trailer in the video embedded above, though.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

The First Descendant hasn’t actually been given a concrete release date just yet, but it has, in fact, been given an Open Beta window — which is September 19, 2023, to September 25, 2023. If that’s the sort of thing you wouldn’t mind tapping into, then you can register your interest by applying on any of the respective store handles. Alternatively, you can share your interest in the Open Beta by following NEXON Games’ official site handle here.

The good news is, The First Descendant will be launching on all major platforms, which means you’ll be able to get ahold of it on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Interested in keeping up to date with The First Descendant? If so, be sure to check in with the team over at NEXON Games for all the latest pre-launch updates here. If anything changes ahead of its global release, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of The First Descendant when it eventually comes to consoles and PC? Any interest in signing up to the Beta test later this year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.