If you’ve been scrolling through the PlayStation Store looking for your next addictive looter shooter to play with friends, you’ve almost certainly stumbled on The First Descendant at some point. Its flashy combat trailers, customizable characters, and crossplay support make it a really tempting pick for anyone tired of paying full price for every new release. I was skeptical at first too, because a lot of free to play games lock most of their good content behind paywalls, but this one surprised me. One of the most common questions new players ask before hitting download is is the first descendant free on ps5, and we’re breaking down exactly what you need to know before you commit storage space to the game. We’ve spent dozens of hours playing the PS5 version specifically, so we’ll also cover hidden costs, exclusive bonuses for PlayStation users, and whether the free version is worth your time even if you never spend a cent.
Is The First Descendant Free On PS5? Breakdown of the Base Access Model
The short answer is yes, the full core version of The First Descendant is 100% free to download and play on PS5, no upfront purchase required. You don’t need to sign up for any subscriptions outside of what you already use for PlayStation, and there’s no time limit or demo restriction on the free download. You do not need to own any paid DLC or pre-order packs to access the full core game on PS5, so you don’t have to worry about getting locked out of missions after a few hours of play.
The only subscription you might need is PlayStation Plus, and that’s only if you want to play co-op multiplayer with friends. If you only plan to play the single player story mode or solo missions, you can access all of that content without an active PS Plus subscription. I tested this myself last month on a secondary PS5 account with no linked payment methods and no PS Plus, and I was able to play through the first 20 hours of story content, unlock three different characters, and access three different open world zones without any paywalls popping up.
When you download the free version of The First Descendant on PS5, you’ll get a pop-up about the in-game store the first time you log in, but you can easily close it and never open it again if you want. There are no forced prompts to spend money as you play, and the game never pushes you to make purchases to progress.
Hidden Costs You Might Encounter When Playing The First Descendant On PS5
While the core game is fully free, there are optional in-game purchases available for players who want to customize their experience or progress faster. None of these purchases are required to enjoy the full game, but it’s good to know what’s available before you start playing, so you don’t get caught off guard. The main optional purchases you’ll see are:
- Cosmetic skins for characters, weapons, and hoverboards that don’t affect gameplay at all, only change how your loadout looks. Most skins cost between $5 and $15, and there are usually new limited-time skins added every month.
- Premium battle passes that release every 3 months, with extra cosmetics, in-game currency, and quality of life items for players who pay the $9.99 fee. The free track of the battle pass still has plenty of rewards for players who don’t want to pay, so you don’t miss out on too much by skipping the premium version.
- Convenience bundles that include extra inventory slots, experience boosters, and in-game currency for players who want to progress faster without grinding. These bundles range from $4.99 to $29.99, and are entirely optional for players who don’t mind putting in the time to earn rewards through gameplay.
You will never hit a paywall that blocks you from core story or gameplay content if you choose not to spend money. I’ve played over 70 hours without spending a single dollar, and I’ve unlocked 8 out of the 12 playable characters, and cleared all current endgame raid content with no issues. The grind for characters and loot is fair, and you never feel like you’re being punished for not spending money.
One thing to note is that PS Plus subscribers sometimes get exclusive free cosmetic bundles for the game, so it’s worth checking the PS Plus benefits tab every month if you have an active subscription. I got a free character skin and a 7-day experience booster last month just for being a PS Plus member, no extra cost required.
Exclusive Perks for PS5 Players of The First Descendant
The PS5 version of The First Descendant has a few exclusive features that make the free experience even better than on other platforms, and you don’t have to pay anything extra to access them. All of these PS5 exclusive features are available even if you’re playing the fully free version of The First Descendant on PS5, no paid upgrade required.
DualSense adaptive trigger support is the biggest standout feature, in my opinion. The trigger tension changes depending on what weapon you’re using, so shotguns have a heavy, satisfying pull when you fire, while SMGs feel light and snappy. It makes combat feel way more immersive than it does on other platforms, and it’s a small detail that makes a big difference during long raid sessions.
You also get access to 3D audio support that lets you hear exactly where enemy fire is coming from without needing a high-end headset. I play with a basic pair of wired headphones, and I can easily tell if an enemy is behind me, above me, or around a corner just from the audio cues. The PS5 version also has drastically faster load times than the PS4 version: the game loads from the main menu to a mission in under 10 seconds, compared to up to 30 seconds on older PS4 models.
Crossplay is fully supported too, so you can play with friends on Xbox, PC, or Switch even if you’re on the free PS5 version. I played with a friend on PC last week, and we had zero lag or connection issues even during a 45 minute endgame raid with 8 total players.
Is the Free PS5 Version of The First Descendant Worth Your Time?
Whether the game is worth downloading depends on what you’re looking for in a looter shooter, but since it’s free, there’s very little risk to giving it a try. If you like games like Destiny 2 or Warframe, where you can grind for cool loot, customize your playstyle, and play with friends, you’ll almost certainly have a good time with it.
The game is also great for casual players, because you can drop in for 30 minute sessions and make progress, no need to commit hours at a time to get something done. The story is engaging enough to keep you interested, and the combat is fast and satisfying, so it never feels like a chore to play.
That said, it’s not for everyone. If you hate grinding for loot, you’ll probably get frustrated with the process of unlocking new characters, since each one requires you to collect a few different rare materials that can take a few runs to get. If you also hate seeing any in-game store prompts at all, you might find the occasional store notification annoying, even though you can turn most of them off in the settings. As a free game, it’s almost always worth downloading even if you only play it for a few hours to see if it clicks for you. The game is only around 45GB on PS5, so it doesn’t take up too much storage space compared to other modern looter shooters that can be over 100GB.
At the end of the day, there’s no catch when it comes to whether is the first descendant free on ps5. You can download the full core game right now for no cost, play as much as you want, and access every piece of gameplay content without ever pulling out your credit card. The optional purchases are all cosmetic or convenience focused, so you don’t have to worry about falling behind other players just because you don’t want to spend extra money. If you’ve been on the fence about trying it, there’s really no risk to giving it a download next time you’re scrolling through the PS Store looking for something new to play.