The First Descendant Reveals Season 2 Episode 2 April Update Coming April 17

Nexon has announced a major update for their free-to-play looter-shooter The First Descendant, set to launch next week on April 17. 

The Season 2 Episode 2 April update will bring new content including a new character, story elements, gameplay systems, and various quality-of-life improvements.

The centerpiece of the update is the addition of "Ultimate Blair," a new playable Descendant character with fire-based abilities. This character comes with dedicated story content that expands the game's lore. 

For endgame players, a new "Void Erosion Challenge Mode" will provide fresh high-difficulty content to test their builds and coordination.

Several new systems are being introduced to enhance character progression. These include a new Badge System and Reactor/External Component Option Enhancement System, alongside five new External Component Sets that will give players more build customization options.

Cosmetic enthusiasts haven't been forgotten, with two new skin sets coming in the update. The "Dandy Corn" unisex skin will be available at launch on April 17, while the "Albion Academy Summer Uniform" full-body skin will arrive later on April 30.

New players will benefit from significant improvements to the beginner experience. Nexon has simplified the main questline, added guide quests specifically for beginners, and reorganized early game areas to provide a smoother onboarding process. An in-game web guide will also be available to help new Descendants learn the game's systems.

The update includes multiple in-game events to keep players engaged. "Ingris Guardian Blair" and "Weekly Fire Support" challenges will begin on April 17. Additionally, a special one-time event running from April 17 to April 23 will reward players who log in with a 'Surprise Egg' social motion.

Several quality-of-life improvements address common player pain points. Hard difficulty Special Operations will now reward Arke Tuning EXP, crafting identical weapons at the highest tier will be possible, and Void Shard consumption has been removed when opening Amorphous Material in the Void Fusion Reactor.

Interestingly, the developers have decided to postpone the External Composition Core system that was originally planned for this update. According to the live stream, this decision was made to ensure proper balancing and because the system was deemed less necessary than other improvements for current content.

Key Features in The First Descendant's Season 2 Episode 2 April Update

Coming April 17, 2025

• New Ultimate Character: Ultimate Blair with fire-based abilities

• Story Content: New Blair Descendant storyline with in-game cinematics

• Void Erosion Challenge Mode: New endgame activity for experienced players

• Badge System: Fresh progression mechanic

• Reactor/External Component Enhancement: New system for improving gear

• Five New External Component Sets: Additional build customization options

• New Cosmetics:

  • "Dandy Corn" unisex skin (April 17)

  • "Albion Academy Summer Uniform" full-body skin (April 30)

• Beginner Experience Improvements:

  • Simplified main quests

  • New guide quests for beginners

  • Reorganized early game fields

  • In-game web guide

  • Ultimate Bunny farming difficulty adjustment

• In-game Events:

  • "Ingris Guardian Blair" challenge

  • "Weekly Fire Support" challenge

  • One-time login event (April 17-23) awarding the 'Surprise Egg' social motion

• Quality of Life Improvements:

  • Arke Tuning EXP rewards for hard difficulty Special Operations

  • Ability to craft identical top-tier weapons consistently

  • Removed Void Shard requirements for opening Amorphous Material

  • Added Sigma Sector Rewards

Coming in May Update

• Dynamic Motion system

• Arke Tuning System with sockets and equipable items

• New "Ice Maiden" boss replacing Void Abyss Intercept Battle Boss

• Improved Party Finding System

• Core conversion system

• Inversion Reinforcement Preset saving function

• Photo Mode enhancements with stickers and frames

PAX East 2025 Appearance (May 8-11)

• Dev Livestream on May 11 (9 AM PT)

• Season 3 content reveal

• Live Q&A session

• Cosplay event featuring 'Bunny' and 'Serena' characters

The First Descendant is currently available as a free-to-play title on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, with full crossplay and cross-progression support. While the game enjoyed a successful launch, reports indicate that player numbers have declined significantly since then, with current Steam averages around 10,000 players.

This comprehensive update appears to be part of Nexon's ongoing strategy to refine the game experience and potentially recapture some of the player base that has drifted away since launch.