If you’ve spent any time scrolling the Xbox store lately looking for a new co-op looter shooter to sink hours into, you’ve almost certainly come across The First Descendant. The top question most players have before hitting download is is the first descendant free on xbox, especially with so many live service games hiding core content behind paywalls these days. I’ve put over 45 hours into the game across my Xbox Series S and old Xbox One, testing free access limits, grinding endgame raids, and even bringing a few friends into the fold, so I can break down exactly what you get for no cost, what’s optional to buy, and if it’s worth grabbing even if you don’t plan to spend a cent.
Is The First Descendant Free On Xbox? Core Access Rules
The short answer is yes, there is no upfront cost for the base game on any Xbox console, including the Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. You don’t need an active Xbox Game Pass subscription to download it either, even though it’s listed in the Game Pass store for bonus rewards. The base download is roughly 78GB as of the latest season, so make sure you clear some space on your console before you start the install.
Xbox Live Gold/Game Pass Core is only required for co-op and PvP modes, so if you only want to play the single-player prologue and story missions, you don’t need a paid subscription at all. I tested this last year when my Game Pass lapsed, and I was still able to play 8 hours of solo story content without any issues, no paywalls popping up to block my progress. The only thing I couldn’t access was the public matchmaking menu, which makes sense given Xbox’s platform rules for online multiplayer.
Hidden Costs You Might Encounter When Playing For Free
While the base game is totally free to access, it is a live service title, so there are optional microtransactions you might run into as you play. The good news is none of these are required to enjoy the full core experience, and no pay-to-win mechanics are locked behind purchases. All upgrades, weapons, and most characters can be earned just by playing the game, no extra cash needed. The optional paid items you’ll see in the in-game store include:
- Cosmetic skin packs for characters and weapons, ranging from $4.99 to $19.99, with no impact on gameplay stats
- Seasonal premium battle passes with exclusive rewards, priced at $9.99 per 3-month season, with most free track rewards still available to non-paying players
- Convenience items like extra storage slots, XP boosters, and bundles of in-game premium currency
- Premium edition upgrades that give early access to new characters and limited-edition cosmetics that aren’t available to free players
I’ve never spent any money on the game, and I’ve unlocked 9 out of 12 available characters so far, just by completing weekly challenges and grinding endgame missions. The only time I ever felt tempted to buy something was for a really cool character skin, but I could easily skip it without missing out on any actual gameplay. Even the battle pass free track gives out enough premium currency every season to almost cover the cost of the next premium pass if you grind enough, so you can technically get all premium rewards without spending real money if you put in the time.
Limitations For Free Xbox Players You Should Know
Even though you get full access to most content for free, there are a few small limitations you should be aware of before you download. None of these are dealbreakers for most casual players, but they’re good to keep in mind so you don’t run into surprises later. First, new characters are released with a 2-week early access window for players who buy the premium character pack or own the current premium battle pass. After that 2 weeks, the character becomes available for all free players to unlock via standard gameplay challenges.
Free players have full access to all story and endgame PvE content, including every raid, mission, and open world area, no matter how long you’ve been playing. The only other big limitation is if you don’t have Xbox Live Gold: you won’t be able to team up with friends or join public matches, which is a big part of what makes the game fun. If you only play solo, that’s not an issue at all, but if you want to run raids with your crew, you’ll need that active subscription. Cross-play is also fully enabled for free players, so once you have Gold, you can team up with friends on PC and PlayStation with no extra cost.
How To Start Playing The First Descendant For Free On Xbox Today
Getting started for free is super simple, and you can be playing in under an hour if you have a fast internet connection. First, head to the Xbox store on your console or the mobile Xbox app, search for The First Descendant, and select the “Free Base Edition” to add it to your library. If you do have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can claim a free welcome bundle that includes 1,000 premium in-game currency and a few exclusive weapon skins, so make sure you grab that before you launch the game for the first time.
Link your Nexon account to save progress across platforms if you ever want to switch to PC or PlayStation later, so you don’t lose all your hard-earned characters and upgrades. Once it’s downloaded, run through the 45-minute prologue first to unlock all core gameplay mechanics, the open world, and co-op matchmaking. I recommend jumping into a few public co-op missions right after you finish the prologue to earn extra XP and rare upgrade materials faster, which will help you unlock your first new character in just a few hours of play. Don’t worry about being underleveled, most veteran players are happy to carry newer players through low-tier missions to help them get started.
At the end of the day, the answer to is the first descendant free on xbox is a resounding yes, with no hidden paywalls for core content and a huge amount of gameplay available for no cost at all. It’s one of the most generous free-to-play looter shooters on the Xbox store right now, with no pay-to-win mechanics and regular content updates that add new missions, characters, and areas for all players, no purchase required. If you’re looking for a new game to play solo or with friends, it’s absolutely worth downloading, even if you never plan to spend a cent on microtransactions. I’ve had more fun with it than a lot of $60 full-price games I’ve bought in the last few years, and I still jump in for a few raids with my friends every weekend.