Nexon faces backlash over microtransactions in The First Descendant

The First Descendant, a popular free-to-play looter shooter developed by Nexon, has been making waves on Steam since its recent launch. The game offers an engaging experience akin to Warframe, emphasizing cooperative gameplay and progression through missions and boss battles.

However, player feedback has highlighted concerns regarding the game's aggressive use of microtransactions. Many players have expressed dissatisfaction with Nexon's monetization strategy, which includes a range of in-game purchases like premium battle passes, character skins, and experience boosts.

One major point of contention is the requirement to buy virtual currency bundles, leading to leftover currency and a perceived pressure to spend more. Notably, new characters, called Descendants, can only be acquired through real-money purchases or by using the premium virtual currency, Caliber, which cannot be earned through gameplay alone.

Players have also criticized the option to purchase an 'Ultimate Descendant' with enhanced stats and exclusive skins for over $55. Additionally, the game's restriction on reusing acquired paints without additional purchases has drawn ire from the community.

Despite these criticisms, The First Descendant has amassed a large player base on Steam, with a peak concurrent player count of 229,257, securing a spot among the top five most-played games on the platform.

In response to player concerns such as delayed item deliveries, Nexon has issued apologies and promised to enhance service stability going forward. While the game is also available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, player statistics for these platforms remain undisclosed.

The First Descendant's success on Steam has been overshadowed by player dissatisfaction with its microtransaction system. Nexon's approach to monetization has sparked debate within the gaming community, with some labeling it as 'predatory.' Despite these challenges, the game continues to attract a significant player base, prompting the developer to address issues and improve the overall gaming experience.