Shooter RPG fans, rejoice! Nexon, the Korea-based studio behind The First Descendant, has revealed more details regarding their upcoming free-to-play sci-fi co-op shooter game at the Xbox Games Showcase Extended.
Since the release of Outriders in 2021, shooter RPG fans have glued their eyes to their monitor for news of a new game, and the wait did not take long as the preview of The First Descendant definitely brought excitement with the game closely mirroring shooter juggernaut — Destiny 2. While this article looks at the upcoming The First Descendant cross-platform beta test, it will also feature additional details regarding this exciting shooter RPG game.
What to Expect in The First Descendant Cross-Platform Beta Test?
While fans enjoyed sneak peeks and gameplay leaks, such as the boss fights and unique skills and abilities of the 10 playable Descendants from last year’s beta test, fans can expect many more new and improved features in this year’s beta test.
For example, the developers state that they will provide us, players, with an updated user interface, a revamped grappling hook, a cosmetic system, changes to the jumping animation, several quality-of-life changes, improved game performance, and new giant boss raids against the Colossus for up to four players.
Furthermore, beta test players will have the chance to play two never-before-seen characters showcased in the new gameplay trailer, Valby and Kyle, who have their own unique skills and abilities.
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How to Apply for The First Descendant Cross-Platform Beta Test?
If you are keen to be part of the lucky few to experience the beta test, click on the official Nexon webpage and register with your details. Players selected will be eligible to play the beta test on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles via cross-play from August 22-28.
The First Descendant
The First Descendant Story and Characters
The First Descendant story sets in the war-torn continent of Ingris of the world, Albion. The world is currently under siege by alien invaders known as the Vulgus. In the game, you will play as one of the empowered Descendants — a group of superhumans gifted with physical and magical abilities from their ancestors to retaliate against the alien armies and protect Ingris from destruction.
From everything we know thus far, players will have to band together and fight back against alien armies and the powerful Colossus in strategic boss fights where teamwork and tactics are the keys to survival.
As for the characters, there are currently 13 Descendants we know of, with each containing 4 active skills, ranging from offence to defence to use in battle.
10 Characters Revealed in the 2022 Beta Test:
- Lepic
- Ultimate Lepic
- Ajax
- Viessa
- Jayber
- Sharen
- Gley
- Blair
- Bunny
- Freyna
3 New Characters Revealed in the Xbox Games Showcase Extended:
- Ultimate Viessa
- Kyle
- Valby
The First Descendant Gameplay
Based on the gameplay footage, we conclude that The First Descendant takes inspiration from other shooter games like Outriders and Destiny, as the game looks like a nice mix between the two.
The games start by allowing you to choose your character before sending you to the danger zone, Albion. While the main plot revolves around fighting against alien enemies, you can still take on side quests, field missions, upgrade runes, weapons and more. The field missions are pretty mundane, as shown in the beta test, with the mission varying from defending set objects to investigating broken detectors.
However, the game does pick it up a notch when you are tackling boss fights. Boss fights are contained separately within Void Intercept Battles, which you can access from terminals across Albion. Unlike simple field missions, these fearsome foes have specific weak points you can aim for, but it is not a task you can accomplish alone, which is where the heart of the game lies.
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The First Descendant Release Date and Platforms
With the conclusion of the beta test on August 28 and the time needed for summarisation of feedback from the test, we predict that The First Descendant will release sometime between October, November or December this year.
Since The First Descendant runs on Unreal Engine 5 and features photo-realistic visuals, only the newest platforms can run the game. Sorry, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users.
The List of Platforms Available:
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
- Xbox One
- PC (Through Steam)
Concluding Remarks
While the reviews of the first beta test of The First Descendant were good, not revolutionary, we expect this shooter RPG game to show its true worth in the upcoming beta test and its release. Who knows? Maybe The First Descendant could grow to a contender for one of the best shooter RPG games ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The First Descendant a Free-to-Play Game?
Yes, The First Descendant is a free-to-play shooter RPG game by Nexon. In addition, The First Descendant also features cross-play, so it is definitely one game you must add to your list.
What Other Shooter Games Are Coming Out This Year?
The First Descendant may still be a few months away, but you can look forward to Starfield, which releases on the 6th of September. If you are craving more, Stalker 2 is another of our recommendations.
Are There Microtransactions in The First Descendant?
Yes, to your contrary, microtransactions are always in free-to-play video games to allow developers to earn money. While The First Descendant is a free game, we expect several cosmetic items could still be available to purchase with real money, like most free-to-play games.