The First Descendant players are criticizing Nexon over Season 1 content drip feed, but the devs are listening

What you need to know

Nexon recently showed off what players can expect from Season 1 of The First Descendant, and players have been excited for the upcoming content update.
However, a new development revealed that Season 1 was actually going to be split into three separate updates spread across three months.
This resulted in community backlash, criticizing Nexon for drip feeding content into the game.
Nexon has since responded to the feedback, and adjusted the schedule for Season 1… But players still aren’t totally happy.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I must say that Nexon has been treading on thin ice with The First Descendant: Season 1 “Invasion.” While it’s commendable that they are listening to their players and making changes, the initial reveal left many of us feeling a bit misled. We were expecting a feast, not a drip feed.

Initially launching before its official season debut, The First Descendant has proven to be a massive hit for Nexon, largely due to the studio’s dedication to addressing player suggestions. However, Nexon’s unveiled timeline for Season 1 “Invasion” of The First Descendant has sparked some criticism among players.

Initially, Nexon gave the impression that all content shown for the Season 1 update would launch together at first. However, it was later revealed that this new content would actually be rolled out in three distinct updates, each spaced a month apart. This revelation sparked frustration among players, but Nexon has since acknowledged the feedback and revised the schedule for the Season 1 update.

Previously, “The First Descendant: Season 1 – Invasion” was divided into three releases on August 29, September 26, and October 30, gradually introducing fresh content over several months. However, the revised strategy is to launch the entire Season 1 update on August 29 as planned. This update will feature Hailey, the new playable character, the Season 1 Battle Pass, a new progression system for the season, and a unique type of single-player dungeons.

As a long-time fan of The First Descendant game series, I am thrilled to share my excitement about the upcoming update planned for October 10th. Being deeply involved in the gaming community, I have always appreciated the developers’ efforts to incorporate feedback and make improvements based on player suggestions. This latest update, which includes the highly-anticipated Death Stalker Void Intercept Battle, new Ultimate Weapons, upgrades, and a new Ultimate Freyna Descendant, is a testament to their dedication. I have high hopes that this update will enhance my gaming experience and deepen my immersion in the game world. The developers’ commitment to change, as expressed in their recent letter, speaks volumes about their respect for their players and their willingness to continually improve the game. I eagerly await the release of this update and look forward to exploring the new content it will bring.

However, many players still aren’t happy, and with some valid reason.

A step forward, but concerns still remain

All in all, I strongly believe that Nexon is outdoing expectations and delighting players with the frequent updates for The First Descendant. The team has been swift in responding to player suggestions and incorporating improvements that genuinely enhance the game’s enjoyment, and for the most part, they have acknowledged their errors and grown from them. It appears that this presents another opportunity for the team to learn and improve.

The trailer for The First Descendant: Season 1 “Invasion” that you can find above doesn’t indicate that the series will be gradually released in various updates, such as episode by episode. Despite players generally appreciating the more compact update schedule that Nexon has recently adopted (and praising the developers for their swift response), there are still some problems persisting.

Many players of TFD are still frustrated because they feel deceived by the initial unveiling of Season 1. I can understand their disappointment, as they expected the initial release to contain all the features shown and for Nexon to surprise us with smaller content updates throughout the season. However, it appears that we’ve already seen most of what we can anticipate from the game in the next three months, leaving us with a long wait for much of it.

Additionally, it seems unusual that Hailey’s unique game modules aren’t being introduced simultaneously with her character. This implies that players will have to delay fully utilizing Hailey until a subsequent update which includes the necessary content to maximize her abilities effectively. This decision feels peculiar, to put it mildly. Furthermore, many gamers are disheartened by the news that Ultimate Freyna is no longer imminently available.

It’s understandable that Nexon can’t possibly have everything prepared for the launch on Aug 29. It seems probable that certain features such as Ultimate Freyna and the Death Stalker Colossi boss battle might not be ready to debut yet. As a result, they’ve opted to bring forward the third Season 1 update while delaying the second one. Fingers crossed that Nexon will take note of this for future TFD updates, providing clearer communication about their plans and avoiding piecemeal content releases, as these strategies have a tendency to upset players, as numerous live service games have demonstrated.

2024-08-23 22:09

What you need to know

A step forward, but concerns still remain

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