Source: Nexon

On the 19th, Nexon (co-CEOs Kang Dae-hyun and Kim Jung-wook) announced that it has applied an 'Evangelion' collaboration update to 'The First Descendant,' a looter shooter developed by its subsidiary Nexon Games (CEO Park Yong-hyun).

Through this collaboration, the game has released a variety of items that capture the unique aesthetic of 'Evangelion,' including full-body skins for key characters Rei, Asuka, and Mari, as well as weapon skins, social motions, and attachments. Additionally, an 'Evangelion'-themed user interface (UI) and in-game figure decorations have been added.

As part of the new content, the 'Immortal Bastion' infiltration dungeon has been introduced in the massive Axion field. This dungeon is a facility where the Vulgus enemy faction has illicitly repurposed research data and equipment from the Void Vessel, and players will face a 'Facility Manager'—a subordinate of the Vulgus leader Karel—as the boss. The dungeon now features enhanced randomization for progression paths upon each entry, and the types of turrets deployed by enemies also change dynamically, providing a more intense combat environment.

A new ultimate weapon, 'Mortality's Bond,' has also joined the battlefield. This hand cannon, designed with a grim reaper motif, features a unique effect where the stacks of the 'Rest' debuff increase in proportion to the critical hit multiplier. When an enemy in the 'Rest' state is defeated, the effect spreads to nearby enemies, dealing area-of-effect damage.

The skill mechanics for the playable character (Inheritor) 'Bunny' have been revamped. The electric discharge skill 'Maximum Output,' which was cumbersome to integrate with her existing skill set, has been replaced with 'Flash Kick,' a dash skill that deploys instantly. The skill module system has also been enhanced, granting various bonus effects tailored to the unique characteristics of each module. Furthermore, the UI and balancing for the defense mission 'Interference Mode' have been adjusted, and a system has been introduced where unexpected missions are generated variably based on battlefield conditions.

Balance patches have also been applied to six existing weapons. The 'Albion Cavalry' machine gun has been redesigned to be more versatile for characters with high critical hit efficiency, and it now features a ricochet ability that causes bullets to bounce consecutively upon landing a critical hit. The 'Eraser' scout rifle has had its main gimmick, the 'Decomposition Enzyme' mechanism, improved for better usability. Four melee weapons—'Deus Ex Manus,' 'Hyper Nova,' 'Shadow,' and 'Sin and Punishment'—have had their ammunition consumption requirements removed, and an option has been added to automatically adjust the distance to enemies upon striking, improving CQC convenience.

To celebrate this major update, Nexon is hosting various user events. Through the 'The First Descendant X Evangelion' event running until July 30, users can complete missions to collect 'NERV Tokens' and exchange them for limited-edition collaboration items. The attendance event 'Ocean Day with Valby,' running until July 23, offers various growth resources such as the 'Freyna Medical Support Skin' and 'Valby Ocean Day Mascot Skin.' Additionally, the 'Ultimate Weapon Growth Mission II' will run until July 15, providing bonus materials and in-game resources when acquiring, converting, or adjusting options for weapons.

Nexon will host a showcase titled 'Descendant Fest' on July 2 at 9:00 AM to commemorate the second anniversary of the game's official launch. The event will be broadcast via a live stream on the official 'The First Descendant' YouTube channel, where the team will share new content for 'Season 4,' the update roadmap for the second half of the year, and engage with users and creators.

Detailed information regarding this update for 'The First Descendant' can be found on the official website and official YouTube channel.