If you’ve been scrolling through gaming forums or watching gameplay clips of the new third-person looter shooter, you’ve almost certainly asked will the first descendant be free at some point. As a long-time looter shooter fan who’s put 70+ hours into the beta and early access builds, I’ve tested every part of the game’s monetization system to answer this question clearly, no vague corporate jargon included. Whether you’re a casual player who only logs in a few hours a week or a hardcore grinder who wants to chase every top-tier weapon, this guide will break down exactly what you get for free, what’s locked behind a paywall, and if spending any money is worth it for you.
Will The First Descendant Be Free For All Players At Full Launch?
Nexon, the game’s developer, confirmed the free-to-play model back in 2022, and they’ve stuck to that promise through every beta test and early access build. There were some rumors floating around last year that the game might switch to a buy-to-play model for launch, but those were debunked by the official dev team in a community Q&A last quarter. You can download the full game on all supported platforms, including PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, for no cost on launch day, no pre-order or hidden purchase required.
I tested the free account during the last open beta, and I didn’t hit a single paywall that stopped me from progressing through the main story, joining co-op missions, or unlocking 12 different playable characters in my first 20 hours of play. The game’s core full experience is 100% accessible without spending a single cent. The only paid content is optional cosmetics, battle passes, and minor convenience items that don’t give any gameplay advantage over free players.
What Content Can You Access Without Paying?
You don’t have to hand over any cash to enjoy almost every part of The First Descendant, even the high-difficulty endgame content that most players stick around for. I’ve played through almost all of the launch content on a free account, and the only things I couldn’t access were optional cosmetic skins that don’t change how my characters or weapons perform. This is a huge difference from many other free-to-play looter shooters that lock endgame content behind paid DLC, which is part of why the question of will the first descendant be free is so common in gaming communities right now.
- Full main story campaign and all side missions: Every story beat, world exploration zone, and side quest is available for free players the second you download the game. No story chapters are locked behind a paywall, and you don’t have to pay to unlock new zones as they release in future updates.
- All playable characters and base weapons: You can unlock every Descendant and every standard weapon through regular gameplay, no paid-only characters or power upgrades exist in the game. Character unlocks require earning specific materials from missions, which drop at the same rate for free and paid players.
- All co-op and multiplayer modes: Free players can join 4-player raid missions, public world events, and custom lobbies with friends with no restrictions, even if their teammates have paid for battle passes or cosmetic packs. You won’t get kicked from lobbies for being a free player, and there’s no matchmaking advantage for paid users.
- Endgame progression systems: The high-difficulty void missions, boss raids, and gear crafting systems are all fully accessible for free players, with no level caps or progression locks for non-paying users. You can craft the highest rarity gear in the game without spending any money, as long as you put in the time to farm the required materials.
I tested this out by making a second free account last month to play with a group of friends who are new to the genre, and we cleared the hardest raid mission available in the beta without any of us spending a cent. Our gear was just as good as players who had bought the premium battle pass, and we didn’t run into any restrictions that stopped us from completing the mission. If you’re worried you’ll have to pay to keep up with your friends, you can put that fear to rest.
How To Unlock Premium Rewards For Free
Even the paid battle pass has tons of rewards that free players can earn without buying the premium track, and there are multiple ways to get premium currency for free if you’re willing to put in a bit of extra work. You don’t have to miss out on cool skins or useful items just because you don’t want to spend real money on the game.
Every battle pass has a free track with 50+ tiers of rewards, including premium currency, character skins, weapon cosmetics, and crafting materials you’d otherwise have to grind for separately. I earned enough premium currency from the beta battle pass’s free track to buy half of the premium cosmetic set I wanted, without spending any real money. You can also earn premium currency from weekly challenge missions, seasonal events, and special community milestones that the devs roll out every few months. For example, during the launch window, players who complete 10 main story missions in the first two weeks get 500 premium currency for free, enough to unlock a small cosmetic pack or save up for the next battle pass’s premium tier.
One thing to note is that premium currency earned from free tracks never expires, so you can save up for multiple seasons if you don’t see a cosmetic you want right away. I’ve been saving my premium currency from the beta and pre-launch events for a special skin for my main character, Freyna, and I’m already 70% of the way there without spending any money. If you’re a casual player who only logs in 3-4 hours a week, you can still finish the entire free battle pass track before the season ends, as long as you complete your daily and weekly challenges. You don’t have to grind 40 hours a week to get all the free rewards.
Is It Worth Spending Money On The First Descendant?
Just because the game is free doesn’t mean you might not want to spend a bit of money to support the devs or get extra cosmetics, but you should only spend if it fits your budget and playstyle. Never spend money on in-game items just to keep up with other players, because there are no pay-to-win upgrades available. All paid items are purely cosmetic or convenience items like extra storage space, which you can also earn through gameplay if you’re patient.
If you’re a big fan of the game and play 10+ hours a week, the $10 battle pass is a great value, because it gives you enough premium currency to buy the next season’s battle pass for free if you complete all the tiers. That means you only have to pay once for permanent access to all future battle passes, as long as you keep up with the challenges. I’ve spent $10 on the first battle pass because I know I’ll play enough to get the premium currency back for the next season, and I wanted the extra character skins for my main Descendant. But I haven’t spent any money on any other items, and I haven’t felt like I’m missing out on anything important.
If you’re a casual player who only logs in once or twice a week, you probably won’t finish the premium battle pass track, so it’s not worth the cost. You’ll get more than enough rewards from the free track to enjoy your time playing. The only paid convenience item that’s worth considering if you’re a hardcore grinder is the extra storage space for weapons and gear, but even that can be unlocked by completing special endgame challenge missions if you don’t want to spend money. I’ve unlocked two extra storage tabs for free so far, and I have more than enough space for all my gear and crafting materials.
At the end of the day, if you were wondering will the first descendant be free, the answer is a definite yes, and it’s one of the most generous free-to-play looter shooters on the market right now. You don’t have to spend a single cent to enjoy the full game, play with your friends, and chase all the best endgame gear, and all paid content is entirely optional. If you’ve been on the fence about trying it out, you can download it for free with zero risk, and you might just find your new favorite looter shooter to grind with friends.