If you’ve seen The First Descendant popping up on Xbox Game Pass, you might assume it’s a standard Game Pass title. It isn’t—at least not in the usual sense.
The core game is free-to-play. Anyone can download and play it without purchasing Game Pass. Xbox is promoting it under the Game Pass banner because subscribers receive extra perks and cloud access, not because the game itself is locked behind a subscription. In short, Game Pass isn’t required, but it does add some convenience.
For Game Pass Ultimate members, the biggest benefit is Xbox Cloud Gaming, which lets you stream the game instead of installing it. This is handy if you’re short on storage or just want to test it quickly. Game Pass members also get occasional exclusive in-game bonuses, such as cosmetic items, boosts, and starter bundles tied to seasonal updates. These don’t unlock content, but they can make the early game smoother.
As for the game itself, The First Descendant is a third-person co-op looter-shooter RPG built in Unreal Engine 5. You play as powerful warriors known as Descendants, defending Albion and the continent of Ingris from alien invaders called the Vulgus and massive boss enemies known as Colossi. The experience focuses heavily on grinding, upgrading gear, and refining builds—very much in the same space as games like Warframe or Destiny.
On Xbox, the game runs on Series X|S and PC, with Xbox One support discontinued in 2025. Current-gen consoles support features like 4K, HDR, high frame rates, ray tracing, and spatial audio on compatible hardware. Xbox Play Anywhere support is also being rolled out for shared progress on purchased content.
The takeaway is simple: The First Descendant is free for everyone, but Game Pass makes it better. If you enjoy co-op shooters with deep progression and enjoy the rewards of the grind, it’s worthy.
