If you’ve been hyped for Nexon’s cross-platform looter-shooter RPG ever since its first closed beta test dropped, you’ve probably asked yourself how much will The First Descendant cost at launch and for long-term play. I’ve spent dozens of hours in the most recent open playtest, tracked every official announcement about purchase options, and broken down all available costs to help you avoid overspending on content you don’t actually need. Unlike a lot of premium single-player games that have a one-time upfront fee, live service titles often have hidden recurring costs that add up fast if you don’t plan ahead. This breakdown covers every possible expense for every type of player, from casual folks who only play on weekends to hardcore players who grind every new mission the day it drops.
How Much Will The First Descendant Cost For Base Game Access?
First off, let’s get the most common question out of the way. The base version of The First Descendant is 100% free to download and play on all supported platforms, with no mandatory upfront purchase required to access all core gameplay content. That means you can download it day one, play every story mission, unlock every playable character, and compete in all multiplayer modes without spending a single dollar. For players who want extra perks at launch, there are three founder’s pack tiers available for pre-purchase, each with different rewards and price points. The Standard Founder’s Pack costs $29.99 and gives 3 days of early access, an exclusive starter skin, and 1,000 Void Crystals (the game’s premium currency). The Deluxe Founder’s Pack is $49.99, adding extra character skins, more storage space, and 2,500 Void Crystals. The top-tier Ultimate Founder’s Pack runs $69.99, with all previous rewards plus a full set of limited-edition launch skins, permanent account bonuses, and 5,000 Void Crystals. You don’t need any of these packs to enjoy the game, but they’re a good value if you already know you’ll be playing regularly for the first few months.
Recurring In-Game Costs You Should Plan For
While there’s no mandatory subscription fee to play, there are optional recurring costs for players who want extra cosmetic content or faster progression rewards. The biggest regular expense for most players is the seasonal battle pass. The seasonal battle pass is the most consistent recurring cost for regular players, priced at $9.99 per season that runs for roughly 12 weeks. Every battle pass has a free track with rewards for all players, including premium currency, weapon skins, and crafting materials, and a paid track with exclusive limited-edition skins, extra Void Crystals, and quality of life perks like increased experience gain for the duration of the season. The best part? If you complete the full paid battle pass track, you’ll earn enough Void Crystals to buy the next season’s battle pass for free, so you only have to pay once if you play consistently. Other optional in-game purchases include individual cosmetic skins for characters and weapons, which range from $4.99 to $19.99 each, extra storage slots for crafting materials, and character slot expansions if you want to keep every playable character unlocked at once. You never have to pay for gameplay-affecting content, as all playable characters, weapons, and mission content are unlockable for free through regular play. There are no pay-to-win mechanics, so you won’t be at a disadvantage if you choose not to spend any extra money after downloading the base game.
Sample Annual Spending Breakdowns For Different Player Types
Your total annual spending will almost entirely depend on how often you play and how much you care about exclusive cosmetic content. I’ve broken down average spending based on play time, from my own experience and talking to hundreds of other playtest participants:
- Casual players (1-5 hours per week): $0-$10 per year. You can play entirely for free, only spending if you fall in love with a specific cosmetic skin that’s not available on the free battle pass track. Most casual players I talked to during the beta spent $0 over 3 months of play, and still unlocked 4 out of 8 available characters without grinding extra.
- Mid-tier players (5-15 hours per week): $30-$70 per year. This usually covers one founder’s pack at launch and 1-2 paid battle passes per year, or a handful of cosmetic bundles for your main characters. I fall into this category, and I spent around $40 across 6 months of the beta, mostly on a single battle pass and a neon skin for my main character, Freyna.
- Hardcore players (15+ hours per week): $70-$150 per year. This includes the Ultimate founder’s pack at launch, all seasonal paid battle passes, and occasional limited-edition cosmetic bundles for favorite characters or weapons. Most hardcore players in the beta community I’m part of said they planned to spend around $100 per year, as they wanted to support the devs and collect all exclusive skins.
If you’re still unsure how much will The First Descendant cost for your specific play style, you can always test the base game for free first before making any purchase decisions. Even if you only have a couple of hours a week to play, you can still experience everything the game has to offer without spending money. The only time costs add up is if you actively want to collect limited cosmetic content, which is entirely optional.
Tips To Avoid Unnecessary Spending In The First Descendant
It’s easy to get caught up in FOMO (fear of missing out) when limited-time bundles drop, but there are simple ways to make sure you only spend money on things you actually want. First, wait 2-3 days after a new cosmetic or bundle is released before buying it. I can’t tell you how many times I almost bought a skin for a character I barely played, only to realize a couple of days later I never used that character enough to justify the cost. Second, prioritize earning free Void Crystals from daily and weekly challenges before spending real money. You can earn up to 1,200 Void Crystals per season for free just by completing regular challenges, which is enough to cover the cost of the next battle pass without spending extra. Never buy premium currency in bulk unless you have a specific purchase already planned, as impulse buys are the biggest cause of overspending in live service games. Third, don’t buy a founder’s pack unless you plan to play at least 10 hours in the first month of launch. The early access and bonus rewards are only valuable if you actually use them, and if you wait a month you’ll often find the same amount of premium currency on sale for less than the cost of the founder’s pack. If you’re on a tight budget, stick to the free battle pass track first to see if you enjoy the core loop before spending any money. The game has a steep learning curve at first, and you might find that it’s not for you after a few hours of play, so don’t waste money upfront unless you’re sure you’ll stick with it.
At the end of the day, how much will The First Descendant cost depends entirely on your play style and what you want to get out of the game. You can have hundreds of hours of fun with friends, unlock every character, and beat every endgame mission without spending a single cent, or splurge on cosmetic rewards to support the devs if you love the experience. Don’t let FOMO push you into buying content you won’t use, and you’ll have a great time regardless of how much you choose to spend.