Developer Nexon has released the first post-launch update for The First Descendant, bringing much-needed improvements to the game after a disappointing launch.
Patch 1.0.1, available now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, improves performance specifically on PlayStation 5 (the PS5 version has significant frame rate issues), makes gameplay changes and fixes various bugs, and also improves the volume of the logo audio during game startup.
In gameplay, knockback and down recovery times have been sped up by 1.5x, and the maximum operate of Etherllick’s shield ability per phase has been reduced from twice to once. However, there are no changes to The First Descendant’s much-criticized monetization, which some have called “microtransaction hell.”
Nexon’s free-to-play, co-op, looter-shooter-focused shooter, a sort of mash-up of games like Warframe and Destiny, launched on June 30 to a massive player count on Steam (Sony and Microsoft don’t disclose player counts on PlayStation and Xbox). On Valve’s platform, The First Descendant has so far recorded 239,513 concurrent players, enough to put the game in the top five most-played games on Steam. Check out IGN The First Descendant review in progress to find out what we think about the game so far.
But the launch has been plagued by stern issues, including the aforementioned frame rate issues and crashing issues, and many players are still waiting for promised rewards, including Twitch drops. Nexon has issued multiple apologies and paid compensation in the form of in-game resources and items, but that hasn’t stopped the complaints. Nexon even had to ask the players Stopping the practice of purchasing the same item multiple times through Steam or the PlayStation and Xbox stores because players were not getting what they paid for.
Full patch notes for The First Descendant 1.0.1:
Platform and system
- Fixed an issue that caused the logo sound to be too thunderous when starting the game.
- Server and client stabilization has been performed.
- (PS5) Removed unintended factors that were affecting performance.
- (PS5, XSX) Fixed an issue where the FSR Upscale function did not function properly.
Content Improvements
- Recovery time from knockdowns and knockbacks has been increased by 1.5 times.
- Etherllick shield skill maximum operate per phase reduced from 2 times to 1 time.
Fixed bugs
(1) User Interface/UX
- Fixed an issue where the back button did not work after closing the capacity exceeded pop-up in the Module Upgrades UI.
(2) Descendant
- (XB1) Fixed an issue where the heads of other players wearing skins would sometimes not be displayed.
(3) Module
- Fixed an issue where the “Ability Power Modifier” number was not applied correctly after upgrading the “Lethal Infection” module by 5 levels.
- Fixed an issue where the Ultimate Module drop animation was used when the normal “High Power Missile Capacity Upgrade” module was dropped.
(4) Field
- Fixed an issue where object destruction animations would not appear at the Strategic Outpost.
- Fixed an issue where the name and description of the NPC Dominique in the Hagios region were displayed incorrectly.
(5) Equipment
- Fixed an issue where the Ultimate Weapon “Restored Relic”’s Guided Shot would not apply the “Ancient Fire” status effect.
- Fixed a tooltip error regarding the fire skill power of the “Active Volcano” external components from Set 2.
- Fixed a tooltip error regarding the damage at the tender point of the 4-piece external component set “Frozen Heart” effect.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
