Lots of cooperative shooters have entered the fray over the previous couple of years, and one of the vital intriguing ones on the horizon is Nexon’s The First Descendant. Developed by the interior Magnum Studio at Nexon Games, this can be a sci-fi shooter the place gamers’ superpowered characters, referred to as “Descendants,” defend humanity from an invading power. Along the best way, they’ll tackle hordes of enemies and large bosses as they shoot and loot. Intrigued by this daring new franchise in certainly one of gaming’s hottest subgenres, we spoke to Lee Beom-jun, Producer and Head of Magnum Studio to be taught extra concerning the imaginative and prescient behind The First Descendant forward of its Steam beta subsequent month.
During the interview, Lee Beom-jun discusses how this new cooperative shooter IP is making an attempt to face out, what Nexon needs to be taught from the upcoming Steam beta, and why the group made the leap from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5. We additionally obtained the primary particulars on how character customization works in addition to what gamers can anticipate from The First Descendant’s evolving narrative and monetization as a free-to-play title.
The First Descendant│TOKYO GAME SHOW 2022 Trailer (4K)
Digital Trends: The cooperative shooter style has seen an amazing resurgence lately. What made this style interesting for Nexon, and the way do you propose on making The First Descendant stand out from different video games within the style?
Lee Beom-jun: As you stated, the co-op shooter style has been lately drawing consideration once more. And I feel it’s nonetheless a rising style. We centered on the co-op shooter style as we wished to create a web-based recreation that’s liked worldwide. I want to spotlight the 2 factors that differentiate The First Descendant from different video games of the identical style.
The first is our service philosophy. Our objective is to create a recreation that shall be liked and loved by gamers for a very long time. We aspire to offer steady updates and fulfill our gamers with secure on-line companies. The second level is expounded to the sport itself. The First Descendant has numerous, enticing characters that battle with their distinctive talent units and quite a lot of weapons. Based on this fight mechanism, we offer large boss battles the place gamers should defeat the bosses by way of co-op. There are many different differentiating factors, however these are the 2 we predict are probably the most essential.
Digital Trends: How will gamers be capable to customise their character skills and loadouts within the recreation?
Lee Beom-jun: Each character’s talent set is mounted as a result of it’s an space of their distinctive background, persona, and strategic fight. However, gamers can customise their characters and weapons by attaching gear referred to as “Runes.” Runes present varied capabilities, corresponding to rising particular stats or offering further efficiency or passives. Players have restricted assets to decide on Runes, so they have to take into consideration the most effective Rune setting that fits their play fashion or character traits.
For instance, for those who play a personality with excessive gunplay proportion, it will be useful to concentrate on the protection stats of the gun and character. Whereas in case your playstyle consists of wide-range fight based mostly on abilities, you would possibly need to select a Rune that may enhance the vary of your abilities and even lower the talent cooldown. The freedom to make all these selections will present the enjoyable of customizing your play.
Digital Trends: What’s probably the most tough a part of crafting a wholly new IP?
Lee Beom-jun: Like any group, we’re experiencing issue and pleasure in creating a brand new IP. Various wonderful video games and content material are consistently being launched by way of visuals. Hence, it isn’t straightforward to create an consequence that efficiently preserves our distinctive id and meets the style of many individuals. We have been specializing in what our group does finest, and it’s constantly present process refinement.
In the method, the visible theme has shifted from fantasy to sci-fi after receiving suggestions from individuals round us, and I’m happy with the outcomes in the intervening time. Another enticing side of making a brand new IP is watching the creativity of assorted groups come collectively to type a complete new universe. I’m very desirous to see how the world that every group contributed to will develop sooner or later.
Digital Trends: How will narrative content material be delivered in The First Descendant?
Lee Beom-jun: We have a major story within the recreation, and the content material is delivered by quests and in-game cinematic scenes. We will proceed so as to add these tales with every main replace. As you might have guessed, the character that seems within the Gamescom trailer is that this story’s major villain. In addition to the principle story, a number of different tales and story settings shall be proven by varied strategies within the recreation. Discovering these hidden facet tales and background lore shall be thrilling and enjoyable.
Digital Trends: Why did the group select Unreal Engine 5 as The First Descendant’s recreation engine?
Lee Beom-jun: We began creating The First Descendant with the newest model of Unreal Engine 4. Unreal Engine 5 was launched throughout our growth, and our dev group grew to become extremely concerned about its visible high quality. Although I used to be a bit involved because the growth had already progressed lots at that time, I made a decision to boldly improve our recreation to Unreal Engine 5 for the most effective visible high quality. The major motive for the improve is the Nanite and Lumen of Unreal Engine 5. In specific, we imagine that the lighting high quality supplied by Lumen, a real-time world illumination answer, is crucial for next-gen tasks. Now, everybody on the group is delighted with the outcomes.
Digital Trends: How are you approaching monetization for The First Descendant as a free-to-play recreation? Will you cost for particular characters, phases, or gear?
Lee Beom-jun: I imagine that many gamers are curious and anxious about this. Since we’ve got been working on the identical observe and path because the starting of growth, we have been stunned to see that after our recreation reveal, many gamers have been involved concerning the extreme pay-to-win facets of Nexon’s video games. Ultimately, we aspire to not pursue extreme pay-to-win facets. The monetization mannequin may also not deviate considerably from video games of the identical style. Paid merchandise will certainly exist, however the characters, gear, and phases which can be wanted for gameplay and progress within the recreation will be earned by gameplay.
Digital Trends: What areas of the sport are you hoping to get probably the most suggestions on with October’s beta?
Lee Beom-jun: Since it’s our first official take a look at, we’d prefer to obtain suggestions on all facets. However, I’m curious concerning the analysis of areas that the dev group labored particularly onerous on to enhance after the closed FGT we held initially of the 12 months.
Considering that this can be a looter shooter, probably the most crucial areas to examine, for my part, are the battle and development, together with the enjoyable of co-op play. Co-op content material and capabilities have been considerably enhanced after the closed FGT, and I hope gamers will be capable to take pleasure in taking part in collectively. Other than that, I’m keen to listen to consumer opinion on the visible high quality and easy management (which has been evaluated extremely earlier than), change within the core PvE content material, and UX, which has been improved as effectively by implementing suggestions from the FGT.
The First Descendant is in growth for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A PC open beta will happen on Steam between October 20 and October 26.
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