By Sagar V. Mankar 
The First Descendant, a PvE looter shooter by Nexon that launched with significant promise in July 2024, has now experienced a dramatic decline in its player base over just six months. This decline offers valuable insights into the challenges facing modern live-service games.
The Numbers Tell a Story
The game’s trajectory on Steam paints a clear picture of its struggles (Thanks SteamDB):
- Launch Peak (July 2024): 264,860 players
- Current Peak (January 20, 2025): 20,490 players
- Total Decline: Over 90% of the initial player base
While seasonal updates have triggered small upticks in player numbers, these boosts have been temporary, typically rising from 12,000 to 26,000 players for brief two to three-week periods before declining again.
Core Issues Behind the Decline
The challenges The First Descendant faces stem from its inability to address core issues within its gameplay loop. For instance, the reward system remains punishing, with drop rates that feel unrewarding. Additionally, the introduction of new seasonal characters—who start at a base level and require significant investment to catch up to existing heroes—feels more like a burden than an incentive. This design raises a crucial question: why should players invest in grinding new characters when their existing ones already perform well?
Attempts to address these issues, such as adding mega-bosses tailored to specific new characters, have not been enough. Instead of feeling rewarding, these mechanics often frustrate players. Unlike titles like Genshin Impact, which excel at balancing new content with player progression, The First Descendant has struggled to find a sustainable formula.
Related: The First Descendant Roadmap: What’s Coming in 2025 and Beyond
Looking Forward
While The First Descendant isn’t necessarily “dead,” its current player numbers raise concerns about its sustainability as a live-service game. Without a major expansion or fundamental changes to its reward and progression systems, a game like this may continue to struggle with player retention. Apex Legends is also facing a “similar” problem throughout 2024 due to rampant cheating, flawed matchmaking, less content, and controversial microtransactions. Meanwhile, Sony has entirely shut down two live service projects, including the God of War multiplayer game, a significant blow to their live service ambition.
Do you think The First Descendant will revitalize its lost player base in 2025? Let me know in the comments!
Sources: SteamDB Charts data