Nexon Says The First Descendant Is Inspired By Destiny, Warframe, The Division, Outriders, Halo Infinite And Apex Legends

In case you missed it, Nexon Games is considering the implementation of purchasable boosters for The First Descendant — with the upcoming free-to-play looter shooter's balance being designed to allow players to naturally progress through regular gameplay.

We learned about this through a recent interview the developers had with MP1st. Now there’s more we found out, too. Read further for other important things Game Director Minseok Joo and Producer Beom-jun Lee shared.

For starters, The First Descendant is a grinding experience where players collect various currencies and materials, so the developers are aiming to make the resource collection process feel rewarding for players and are working on improving the user experience in managing these resources.

Visually, the game is designed to be cinematic and impressive — with a focus on making characters appealing. They each have unique abilities and personal stories. The developers emphasized that they never considered it merely "good enough for a free-to-play game."

This venture with The First Descendant marks Nexon's first foray into the looter shooter genre, motivated by their goal to create a global online RPG for PC. The game draws inspiration from Destiny 2, Warframe, Tom Clancy's The Division, and Outriders. Specifically, the character-driven design was influenced by Warframe, while the combat and open-field elements took inspiration from Destiny 2. And the inclusion of grappling hooks in the game was influenced by Halo Infinite and Apex Legends.

At its core, The First Descendant involves character acquisition, resource collection, and the acquisition of weapons and gear to tackle missions and co-op content. Therefore, the goal is to allow players to develop various strategies by accumulating diverse gear, according to the developers.

Because the game is live service, it will continue to receive updates and expansions even after its official launch. The story is currently focused on Karel and the Iron Heart, with plans for character-specific stories and further narrative exploration. Post-launch support will involve continuous updates, including new stories, weapons, characters, and challenging bosses. 

The development team also intends to gather inspiration and feedback from the player community for future updates.