The much-anticipated release of The First Descendant is finally here, and I've been putting it through its paces on the Steam Deck. The game is encountering a few issues, but it’s running similarly to the technical test version, with some additional disconnect problems.
On the default low settings, the game displays clearly and runs between 30 to 40 frames per second (fps), though it often hovers closer to 30 fps during battles. There are occasional spikes in load times, but generally, it maintains a steady frame rate. However, the disconnect issues can be quite frustrating, especially on the Steam Deck. In some areas, like planets, there are noticeable load spikes, but overall, the game sticks around 30 to 40 fps.
The game's difficulty ramps up significantly when you reach the Sterile Land. You'll likely need to bring in companions or do some grinding before tackling these missions. I struggled with the level 11 mission to protect the Albion repeater, so more leveling up is necessary for that one. As for the graphics settings, the implementation of AMD FSR and Intel XeSS isn’t the best, particularly FSR, which seems to be FSR 1. It's quite grainy and doesn't offer much benefit, causing extra lag spikes and blurriness.
The First Descendant & Upscalers
I recommend setting anti-aliasing to medium for a smoother appearance, especially if you’re using upscalers. However, enabling these options introduces additional lag spikes and doesn't significantly improve performance. Running the game with Intel XeSS set to Quality and motion blur turned off, while keeping anti-aliasing on medium, provided a slightly more stable experience, but load spikes persisted. The blurriness in certain areas remained an issue, particularly during intense battle scenarios. It seems XeSS taxes the CPU, and this game is already CPU-heavy.
Given these challenges, I recommend turning off upscalers, setting anti-aliasing to medium, and keeping motion blur off on the low preset for a more consistent experience. This setup will give you a decent gaming experience, though having friends to play with will make it less frustrating. A bit of grinding is necessary to get past some of the tougher levels.
As I was wrapping up my tests, I noticed that The First Descendant has over 200,000 daily active players. Interestingly, I saw the GeForce Now logo, so I decided to try it out. The game is available on GeForce Now, and running it through this service on the Steam Deck allows for full ultra settings. This significantly enhances the visual experience, showing just how stunning the game can look.
If you have a decent internet connection and a GeForce Now subscription (especially the Ultimate tier), you can enjoy "The First Descendant" at its best on the Steam Deck. This does require a good internet connection and the subscription costs about £20 a month. But for those looking to maximize their gaming experience on the go, GeForce Now is a great option.