A free loot shooter on Steam doubles its player count within a few days. The reason for this is likely a new class.
Which game is being referred to? This is about The First Descendant. The loot shooter from Nexon Games is free to play and was released in June 2024. However, after a strong summer, The First Descendant is in a considerably worse state in 2025.
With an update for Season 2 Episode 2, which launched on March 13, the shooter was able to double its player count on Steam: From around 7,000 to 10,000 concurrent players, it has now grown to over 22,000 (via steamdb.info).
One reason for this increase in players may be the new descendant that was added with update 1.2.10. The descendants are standalone characters and the equivalent of classes in The First Descendant. They can be customized with various cosmetic contents.
In a short trailer, the developers show the winged Serena in action:
Angel-like descendant with special abilities
Who is the new descendant? Serena is a first-generation descendant who was previously sealed in Sector Sigma. She looks like a futuristic angel and brings a range of suitable, unique abilities to the battlefield:
- Sacred Flame
- Ascension
- Soar
- Redemption
- Passive: Divinity
The wings on her back are not just decoration: Serena can fly with them. “Ascension” helps her stay in the air longer. With the ability “Soar,” she can quickly swing from the ground into the air or maneuver in the air. “Divinity” and “Redemption” grant her and allies buffs, while her “Sacred Flame” deals damage to enemies and heals allies.
The Season 2 update also continues the main story of the game. A new quest takes you to Sector Sigma after the destruction of the first Iron Heart – exactly where Serena has been slumbering. Additionally, there are new seasonal events and rewards.
The First Descendant struggles with a very high player loss. Since release, 96% of players on Steam have already abandoned the loot shooter. Besides the new season update, the developers are particularly making waves with revealing skins: Players still engaged with The First Descendant were “rewarded” in February with hot tubs and bikinis.
