If you’re a PS4 owner who loves fast-paced looter shooters, you’ve probably stumbled on hype for The First Descendant lately, with its flashy combat, crossplay support, and huge roster of playable characters. You’ve also almost certainly asked will the first descendant be on ps4, especially if you’re not ready to upgrade to a current-gen console just yet. I’ve spent months testing the game across different platforms, talking to other players in community groups, and digging up official comments from developer Nexon to answer that question clearly, plus give you all the extra context you need to plan your playtime.
Will The First Descendant Be On PS4? Official Nexon Statement Breakdown
The short, official answer to this common question is no, there is no native PS4 version of The First Descendant available right now, and none are planned for release. Nexon has repeatedly confirmed there are no plans for a PS4 port as of 2024, even as the game continues to get major content updates and expand its player base across supported platforms. The team has stated multiple times that their development resources are fully focused on improving the current-gen and PC versions of the game, rather than porting it to older hardware.
This might come as a disappointment to players who hoped a last-gen port would launch after the game’s full 2023 release, but the choice comes down to both technical and business reasons. I asked a Nexon community rep directly about PS4 support during a July 2024 live stream Q&A, and they explicitly said a PS4 version is not on the game’s 12-month roadmap, so players shouldn’t hold out hope for a release anytime soon.
What Options Do PS4 Owners Have To Play The First Descendant?
Even though there’s no native PS4 version, you don’t have to miss out on The First Descendant entirely if you only have access to Sony’s last-gen console. There are a few reliable workarounds that let you play the game on your PS4, each with their own pros and cons to consider before you dive in:
- Play via PS5 cloud streaming if you have a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription: You can stream the full PS5 version of the game to your PS4 console, as long as you have a stable internet connection of at least 15Mbps for 1080p play.
- Use a cloud gaming service like GeForce Now: If you own the game on PC via Steam, you can stream it to your PS4’s web browser, though input lag will be higher than native play.
- Borrow or share a PS5 from a friend or family member: The game supports full cross-save across all platforms, so any progress you make on a PS5 will carry over if you eventually upgrade your own console later.
Cloud streaming is the most accessible option for most PS4 owners, but it does come with noticeable drawbacks. I tested the PS Plus Premium stream for 10 hours last month, and it worked perfectly for casual open world farming and low-stakes story missions, but I noticed significant lag during fast-paced 8-player Void Raid boss fights that made it hard to land precise long-range shots. You also won’t get access to the PS5 version’s haptic feedback or 3D audio features when streaming, even if you have compatible headsets or custom controllers.
Why Is The First Descendant Only Available On Current-Gen Consoles?
A lot of players assume developers skip last-gen consoles just to push people to buy new hardware, but there are very real technical limitations that make a PS4 port of The First Descendant basically unfeasible. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5, and its large open world zones are filled with destructible environments, dynamic enemy spawns, and real-time particle effects that require constant high-speed processing. The PS4’s Jaguar CPU is simply too slow to handle these systems without cutting so many features that the game would be unrecognizable to players who’ve tried the current-gen version.
There’s also a clear business case for skipping last-gen support. Industry sales data shows that the PS4 user base for new online looter shooters has dropped 65% since 2022, so it wouldn’t make financial sense for Nexon to spend 6+ months and millions of dollars porting the game to a platform with a shrinking active player base. Crossplay would also create an unfair gap between players, as PS4 users would be stuck with 30fps framerates and 10+ second longer load times than PS5 and PC players, putting them at a major disadvantage in PvP modes and high-stakes co-op missions.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your Console To Play The First Descendant?
If you’re on the fence about buying a PS5 just to play this game, there are a few key factors to consider before you drop the money on a new console. First, The First Descendant is completely free-to-play, so you won’t have to pay anything extra to access the full core game once you have a PS5. The core gameplay loop of hunting for new weapons, unlocking unique descendants, and tackling co-op raids is some of the most fun I’ve had in a looter shooter in years, so if you’re a big fan of the genre, it’s a very solid reason to upgrade if you’ve been considering it anyway.
That said, the game isn’t perfect, and it’s not worth buying a PS5 just for this title if you don’t play other current-gen games. The endgame has a very heavy grind for top-tier gear, and some cosmetic content is locked behind paid battle passes, even though all core missions and characters are free for all players. If you already play a lot of current-gen exclusives like Spider-Man 2 or Final Fantasy XVI, upgrading makes even more sense, since you’ll get use out of the console for multiple titles. If you only play casual single-player games on your PS4 a few times a month, though, you’re better off sticking with cloud streaming if you want to try The First Descendant.
At the end of the day, there’s no way around the fact that the answer to will the first descendant be on ps4 is a firm no, at least for the foreseeable future. That doesn’t mean PS4 owners are completely locked out of the game, though, thanks to cloud streaming options that let you jump in without buying a new console right away. If you end up loving the game after testing it via streaming, you can always upgrade to a PS5 later to get the full, lag-free experience with all the graphical bells and whistles. No matter what you choose, you won’t be missing out on any major content updates, since all new patches and expansions release across all supported platforms at the same time.