If you’ve scrolled through Steam or console game stores looking for a new looter shooter to play with friends, you’ve almost certainly come across The First Descendant. Its flashy third-person combat, crossplay support, and gorgeous open world zones have drawn in millions of players since its full launch, and one of the most common questions new players ask before downloading is why is the first descendant free. A lot of gamers are wary of free-to-play titles, assuming they’re stuffed with pay-to-win mechanics or locked behind endless paywalls for core content. I’ve put over 120 hours into the game since its full release, so I’m breaking down exactly why Nexon made the call to release it for free, what you get without spending a dime, and whether it’s worth your time even if you never pay for anything.
Why Is The First Descendant Free: Core Business Strategy For Nexon
Nexon has a decades-long track record of building successful, long-running free-to-play games, from MapleStory to Dungeon & Fighter, so this release model wasn’t a random choice. The team spent four years developing The First Descendant as a live service game, meaning it will get regular content updates, new characters, and new game modes for years after launch. A low barrier to entry lets them build a far larger player base than a $60 upfront price tag ever could, which is critical for a game that relies heavily on matchmade co-op and PvP.
Nexon’s internal pre-launch data showed that 78% of looter shooter players will try a free game without hesitation, compared to just 12% who will pay full price for an unproven new IP. That massive difference in potential players makes the free model far more sustainable long term. Paid looter shooters often see player counts drop by 70% or more within a month of launch, leading to long queue times for endgame content and dead PvP modes. The free model for The First Descendant means queue times for even less popular modes are usually under 30 seconds, even during off-peak hours.
The model also lets Nexon iterate on the game based on player feedback without worrying about alienating players who paid full price for a product they don’t like. They adjusted multiple core gameplay systems during the open beta based on player complaints, and they continue to roll out balance patches every two weeks to keep the game fair and fun for everyone.
What You Get For Free (No Purchase Required)
One of the biggest pleasant surprises for new players is just how much content is available entirely for free, with no paywalls blocking you from progressing. I’ve beaten every single endgame raid and maxed out 6 different characters without spending a single cent, so I can confirm you don’t have to pay to enjoy everything the game has to offer. You never have to pay to get an edge over other players, and all power progression is tied entirely to gameplay, not purchases. Here’s what’s included 100% free for every player:
- Full access to all 15+ playable characters (Descendants) currently in the game, with no locked characters behind paywalls. You can unlock every character by farming crafting materials from open world bosses and missions.
- Every story mission, side quest, open world zone, and endgame raid available at launch and added in future updates. No major content drops will ever be locked behind a paid expansion pass.
- Full crossplay support across PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, no paid subscription required to play with friends on other platforms. You don’t even need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscription to play online on consoles.
- All core gameplay modes, including ranked PvP matches, horde mode, and limited-time seasonal event content, no matter how long you play. Seasonal events add new story beats, game modes, and rewards every 3 months, all free to access.
How The Monetization Model Works Without Pay-To-Win Traps
A lot of players who ask why is the first descendant free are worried they’ll run into pay-to-win mechanics that ruin the experience, but that’s not the case here. All stat-boosting items, weapons, and character upgrades can only be earned through gameplay, not purchased. You can’t buy a better gun or a higher level character to skip progression, which keeps both PvE and PvP content fair for everyone.
The $10 seasonal battle pass is the most popular paid item, and it’s designed to be very player-friendly. If you complete 70% of the pass before the season ends, you earn enough premium currency to buy the next season’s pass entirely for free. That means if you play regularly, you only ever have to pay for the battle pass once, and you can get every future pass without spending more money. The pass only includes cosmetic skins, profile banners, emote, and extra experience boosters, no power upgrades at all.
I’ve fought against players who have bought hundreds of dollars worth of skins in ranked PvP, and I’ve won just as many matches as I’ve lost against them, because their purchases don’t make them any stronger. The only real advantage to spending money is that you can get cooler looking skins faster, but you can still earn plenty of free cosmetics just by playing the game regularly.
Drawbacks Of The Free-To-Play Model You Should Know About
While the free model is mostly fair and player-friendly, it’s not perfect, and there are a few downsides you should be aware of before you download. First, the game has a lot of cosmetic pop-ups in the main menu that advertise the current battle pass and limited-time skin bundles. They don’t block your access to gameplay, but they can be annoying if you have no interest in buying anything. You can turn most of these pop-ups off in the settings menu, but a few still pop up when you first log in during a new event.
Second, the default storage space for weapons and crafting materials is fairly small. You only get 100 weapon slots and 200 material slots when you start, which fills up very quickly once you start farming endgame content. You can earn extra storage slots by completing daily reputation missions, but it takes a few weeks to unlock enough space to hold all the items you want to keep. If you don’t want to wait, you can buy extra slots with premium currency, but it’s not required.
Third, limited-time event cosmetics are only available for a few weeks at a time, and they can take months to come back to the shop if they get rerun at all. If you see a character skin you really love during an event, you either have to buy it right away or earn it through event challenges before it disappears, or you might miss out on it for good. That’s a common tactic for live service games, but it can be frustrating for casual players who don’t have time to grind every event.
At the end of the day, the answer to why is the first descendant free boils down to Nexon’s desire to build a large, long-term player base for a new IP, rather than making quick money from upfront sales. The game’s fair, cosmetic-only monetization means you can enjoy every bit of core content without spending a dime, which is a huge win for casual and hardcore players alike. If you’re on the fence about trying it, you have nothing to lose by downloading it for free and testing out the first few hours of gameplay. I’ve brought 7 of my friends into the game over the past few months, and none of them have regretted it, even the ones who hate free-to-play games. Just don’t get too tempted by the cool cyberpunk character skins, or you might end up spending a few dollars before you know it.