Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
The First Descendant is finally here, a looter shooter in a similar vein to Destiny 2 that runs on Unreal Engine 5, making it one of the first games in the genre to do so. This has been one of the most highly anticipated releases of the summer, but unfortunately its launch has been anything but smooth.
At the time of writing, The First Descendant is currently at a 42% review score on Steam, with 2,527 positive reviews and 3,440 negative reviews. Many of these center around the same issue, that in-game currency, known as Caliber, wasn’t being granted upon purchase.
Thankfully, this was fixed fairly quickly by the development team, with Nexon posting on X saying, “The caliber delivery issue has been resolved. New purchases will be delivered within 10 seconds. Re-enter the Shop for prior purchases. Resolving Twitch Drops delay is ongoing. As an apology, we will provide: Gold Gain +30% Boost (3 days). Kuiper Shard Gain +30% Boost (3 days). Descendant EXP Gain +30% Boost (3 days). Weapon Proficiency EXP Gain +30% Boost (3 days).”
Unfortunately, The First Descendant was already hit with a slew of negative reviews because of this. “Bought Caliber for Battle Pass but I never got it, Steam payment was successful but nothing in-game,” one reviewer said.
“This game was released with more real money purchasable items than actual gameplay mechanics. Interestingly enough I even bought the currency to buy the battle pass. Jokes on everyone, in-game currency that’s been purchased thus far isn’t being delivered to players! What a joke.”
Another criticism, which is common in many live service titles, is that the in-game currency is purchased in amounts, which means you will have currency left over when purchasing the item you want. This is to encourage you to spend more on another item. One reviewer criticized this practice saying “Descendants cost 300 and 600 to buy, cash shop is fixed at 250 and 520, damn just short, what can you expect from Nexon.”
The First Descendant has been likened to games such as Destiny 2 and Warframe but unfortunately is currently suffering numerous issues at launch, with players unable to get beyond the title screen, while others are being kicked from missions or having their game force closed. One reviewer warned players against trying out The First Descendant by saying, “This is literally Warframe and Destiny combined in one game, and it’s worse than both in basically every aspect.” Another was more blunt with their approach by simply stating, “Just play Destiny 2 or Warframe.”
Launch day issues have become expected at this point, but that still doesn’t mean they aren’t frustrating. However, many of the most beloved online games faced their share of issues, so I think it is too soon to write the game off without waiting for it to be resolved. The First Descendant does look like a lot of fun and a great alternative and evolution of the looter shooter franchise. Only time will tell whether Nexon can turn this issue around before the community loses faith. With so many great titles on the market, including its competitor Destiny 2, which recently saw a huge increase in players following the most recent expansion, many aren’t willing to wait around.
But, I’m hopeful it will turn into a great game and I’m excited to see how The First Descendant progresses over time with new updates and content. If you’re jumping into The First Descendant for the first time, I highly recommend checking out our beginners guide so you can begin your journey on the right foot.
