When a game misses the mark, publishers often look for a silver lining – good feedback or design strengths, for instance – or gloss over the dud with soft language meant to reassure shareholders the same way a weighted blanket might reassure an anxious dog. Rarely do they literally put that game in a presentation under the category of "What Did Not Work," as Nexon recently did with The First Descendant, a third-person looter shooter that has been treading some amount of water since its June 2024 release.
Nexon's March 31 capital markets briefing yielded a treasure trove of comments on AI and Arc Raiders, as well as stark reflection on the company's recent releases. "Let me start with an assessment of what didn't work," read remarks from president and CEO Junghun Lee.
