Nexon unveiled developer notes on June 11 outlining its update roadmap for the action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan, announcing both new difficulty tiers and a host of system overhauls. Existing difficulty settings—formerly labeled “Easy” and “Normal”—will be rebranded as Normal and Challenge, respectively.

A brand-new Beginner mode will also be introduced, designed to help newcomers acclimate to the combat system via an array of convenience features; players may switch in and out of this mode at any time. In contrast, Hardcore mode will offer an entirely fresh challenge: it becomes selectable only after clearing Challenge at least once and starting a new game, and cannot be changed mid-playthrough. In Hardcore, neither monster health nor stamina gauges are visible, and certain in-game systems will be disabled to heighten tension and reward skillful play.

Alongside difficulty tweaks, the update will boost quality-of-life with the addition of skill and equipment preset systems, expanded storage capacity, and a guaranteed 100% item drop rate from main-mission bosses.

The dev team explained that this patch aims not merely to remove irritants but to deepen players’ engagement by broadening the ways the game can be experienced. Reflecting on a past nerf to a particular spear skill—which had come to be seen as the sole optimal choice—they noted that it unintentionally stifled build variety. The priority now is to provide new players with the freedom to craft their own playstyles.

Creative Director Junho Lee remarked that, while they generally prefer buffing underused skills to achieve balance, certain abilities proved so disproportionately strong that more direct adjustments were unavoidable. He acknowledged that no balance patch can be flawless, but stressed that the team has worked earnestly to find the most appropriate compromise—and will continue to vet player feedback closely to ensure a satisfying experience. Finally, to address the disparity between the core release and its trial offering, Nexon announced a temporary suspension of the online demo version of The First Berserker: Khazan.