The First Descendant: Embracing the Loot Cave
In the early days of Destiny, players stumbled upon a delightful glitch in the Old Russia area. This “loot cave” allowed enemies to respawn constantly with higher-than-usual drop rates. Word spread quickly, and soon multiple player groups camped at the cave, annihilating enemies and collecting engrams. The loot cave became a beloved feature, though Bungie eventually nerfed it, later memorializing it with an Easter egg.
Nexon’s new looter-shooter The First Descendant, launched earlier this month, has its version of a loot cave, known as the Valby Run. Located within The Fortress area, this exploit involves mobs respawning infinitely and rapidly, dropping a wealth of resources: gold, Kuiper, and crucial gear loot.
Developer Response
Minseok Joo, director of The First Descendant, acknowledged that the Valby Run exploit was unintentional. “Due to our systematic mistake, mobs at the Fortress Outpost have been respawning infinitely, increasing item drop rates 2-3 times higher than other popular locations,” Joo explained. He emphasized that while the exploit was not intended, the development team did not want to remove it abruptly due to its popularity.
Joo stated that the developers plan to fix the issue in a way that maintains player enjoyment. They aim to update other farming locations to match the efficiency of The Fortress Outpost, thereby balancing the gameplay experience. This approach indicates a departure from the typical nerfing strategy employed by other games, such as Destiny.
Player Reactions
The player community has reacted positively to this news. The top post on the game’s subreddit, titled “W devs,” reflects widespread approval. One player, KO, commented, “Bungie would have disabled that outpost so they could properly nerf it. Thanks for being fun.”
A New Approach to Live Service
Joo’s statement on the Nexon website underscores this commitment: “As we continue our live service for TFD, we have no plan to respond by simply nerfing certain content, for any gameplay that collides with our intentions. We respect every content created by our players and will do our best to create a game that all players can enjoy together for a long time.”
This innovative approach suggests that The First Descendant aims to create a game that evolves with its community, respecting player-discovered content and adapting to maintain a balanced yet enjoyable experience.
Conclusion
The Valby Run in The First Descendant has quickly become a popular feature, reminiscent of Destiny’s loot cave. However, unlike Bungie’s eventual crackdown, Nexon appears to be embracing the exploit, planning to balance the game by enhancing other farming locations. This player-centric approach could set a new standard for live-service games, fostering a more engaging and responsive gaming environment. Whether this strategy will succeed in the long term remains to be seen, but for now, players are thrilled with the prospect of diving into loot-filled adventures.
