Nexon CEO Junghun Lee has delivered a blunt assessment of The First Descendant, saying the live-service shooter failed to maintain long-term player engagement despite a strong launch in 2024. His comments raise new concerns about the game’s future as player numbers continue to decline across major platforms.

The statement came during a recent capital markets briefing where Lee reviewed the company’s recent portfolio performance and identified projects that did not meet expectations.

A Strong Launch That Could Not Maintain Momentum

When The First Descendant launched in July 2024, it attracted significant attention as a free-to-play looter shooter built around cooperative combat, character progression, and equipment grinding. Nexon positioned the title as a major pillar of its global live-service strategy.

Early results looked promising. Hundreds of thousands of players joined during the launch window. Many explored its sci-fi world, fast-paced gunplay, and roster-based character system.

However, that early momentum did not last.

Lee stated that both The First Descendant and Dungeon & Fighter Mobile shared the same issue. According to him, both titles launched strongly but lacked “staying power.” He explained that retention problems weakened long-term engagement and reduced the impact of their initial success.

Player Numbers Show a Sharp Decline

Recent player activity data supports those concerns. The First Descendant reached a peak of more than 264,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly after release. That number has reportedly dropped by about 96 percent since then.

Daily peak player counts now struggle to reach even 5,000 users on the platform. Twitch viewership has also fallen sharply. At launch, the game attracted roughly 160,000 viewers. Today, that number sits near only a few hundred.

Critical reception reflects a similar trend. The game currently holds a mixed rating on Steam and a score of 56 on OpenCritic, showing a divided response from players and reviewers.

Core Progression Systems Became a Major Barrier

Lee suggested that deeper structural issues contributed to the decline. He explained that weak retention systems cannot be fixed through simple updates. Instead, they require changes to the core gameplay structure.

Many players shared similar concerns after launch. While the early loot loop felt rewarding, progression later became slower and more demanding. Unlocking new characters required significant grinding, which discouraged long-term play.

Nexon later introduced cosmetic updates and crossover content, including a collaboration with NieR: Automata. These additions generated attention but did not solve the underlying engagement problems.

Support Continues, But Long-Term Plans Remain Unclear

Despite the criticism, Nexon continues to support The First Descendant with smaller updates. A new patch arrived on April 2, and additional character updates remain in development.

However, Lee questioned whether future investment in similar projects can create experiences players stay committed to over time. He also highlighted rising development costs and increasing pressure across the live-service market.

For now, The First Descendant remains active, but the CEO’s remarks suggest its long-term future depends on whether Nexon decides the game is worth a deeper structural overhaul.