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Check whether your symptom fits the dated notice
NEXON's October 20 notice describes abnormally increasing system RAM during gameplay in certain PC environments, causing frame drops/stuttering and sometimes preventing proper operation. It says the team was investigating a possible NVIDIA shader-cache link. That is narrower than 'my game has any crash' and the proposed action targets Windows NVIDIA DXCache files.
| Your situation | Does the October 20 workaround match? | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC, NVIDIA GPU, RAM rises during play with stutter/frame drops | Potentially matches the notice | Check whether a newer NEXON notice or 1.4.8 update supersedes the workaround first. |
| Console or no NVIDIA GPU/cache path | Not the documented target | Do not apply a Windows NVIDIA-folder instruction; use current platform support. |
| Only a one-time launch crash, no rising RAM/stutter | Not enough evidence to match | Check exact error and current known issues; avoid deleting unrelated files. |
| After clearing cache, first launch stutters briefly | Expected cache rebuild is possible per NEXON | Allow shader cache to rebuild; compare the same scenario and do not call it a guaranteed fix. |
References: NEXON: Abnormally high memory usage on some PC environments · NEXON: The First Descendant Patch 1.4.8
Follow the official workaround only if it fits
This deletes cache files, not the game install or savedata. Still, close the game first and do not force-delete locked files. NEXON explicitly says the shader cache is rebuilt on the next launch and that this can temporarily stutter.
- Before touching files, check NEXON's current news/known-issues page and the 1.4.8 patch note for an update to the memory issue. Record the exact game build and whether the symptom remains after patching.
- If the current official notice still recommends it and your case matches, fully exit The First Descendant and confirm it is no longer running.
- In Windows File Explorer's address bar, enter `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache` exactly as NEXON specifies.
- Delete cache files inside that folder only. If Windows says a file is in use, skip it. Do not delete adjacent folders, game files, shader folders from other vendors, or saves.
- Restart Windows and launch the game. Expect the shader cache to rebuild; NEXON notes this may cause temporary stuttering.
- Compare RAM behavior and stutter in the same kind of activity. If it persists, collect build, GPU/driver, RAM trend, reproduction steps and exact error for NEXON support; do not claim the workaround failed globally from one session.
Preserve useful evidence without posting private logs
The small local checker below structures symptom/build details, but cannot read Task Manager, your driver, or log files. If you post to Steam Discussions, label the platform, patch, GPU/driver and whether the cache workaround was tried; redact Windows usernames, account identifiers and unrelated log paths. Treat replies as clues, not official fixes.
References: NEXON: Abnormally high memory usage on some PC environments · The First Descendant Steam Discussions · NEXON official The First Descendant Discord entry point
If the symptom remains, report a reproducible case
A helpful follow-up separates a dated advisory from a current build-specific report. Record the NEXON build, Windows version, GPU and driver, whether system RAM rises during the same activity, when stutter begins, and whether the official workaround was applied after checking for newer guidance. Do not upload private crash folders or account data to a public forum.
| Record privately | Why it helps separate cases |
|---|---|
| Game build and date checked against NEXON news | Shows whether the report is before or after the later patch. |
| GPU model, driver, Windows build | Limits the claim to the environment that produced it. |
| Repeatable activity and time until RAM/stutter changes | Distinguishes a reproducible trend from a one-time hitch. |
| DXCache action and first-launch rebuild behavior | Shows whether the dated official step was followed and whether the expected rebuild occurred. |
References: NEXON: Abnormally high memory usage on some PC environments · NEXON: The First Descendant Patch 1.4.8
Before you play
- I am on Windows PC and my symptom matches rising system RAM with gameplay stutter/frame drops.
- I checked current NEXON notices and 1.4.8-era status before acting on an October 20 workaround.
- I fully exited the game before touching the named DXCache folder.
- I deleted only cache files in the documented folder and skipped files in use.
- I expect a rebuild stutter and compare the same workload; I do not treat this as guaranteed or as a fix for console/other GPU cases.
Frequently asked questions
Will clearing DXCache definitely fix the problem?
No. NEXON explicitly calls it temporary and says results may vary by environment.
Should an AMD GPU user delete the NVIDIA cache?
The cited workaround specifically names the NVIDIA driver shader-cache folder. It is not a general AMD/Intel recommendation.
Why check 1.4.8 if the workaround is official?
The RAM notice is dated October 20 and patch 1.4.8 released November 5. Recheck current notices to see if later guidance supersedes the older workaround.
Sources & revision notes
Editorial revision: November 6, 2026; not a gameplay test date. The reference notes identify source limits and version differences.
- NEXON: Abnormally high memory usage on some PC environments (Official)
NEXON notice dated October 20, 2026, checked November 6. It reports abnormal system RAM growth/stutter in certain PC environments and gives an explicitly temporary Windows NVIDIA DXCache workaround. Patch 1.4.8 is dated November 5; recheck current notices before applying the older workaround.
- NEXON: The First Descendant Patch 1.4.8 (Official)
Official patch notes dated November 5, 2026 and covering NEXON, Steam, Xbox and PS5. The page's English rendering may differ by locale. Check the live known-issues page for any update to the October 20 PC memory notice before changing files.
- The First Descendant Steam Discussions (Community)
External player-run Steam discussions. Posts are anecdotal, may predate current patches and are not official support or verified GamerWin findings. State platform, game build and reproduction details; avoid account identifiers and private crash logs.
- NEXON official The First Descendant Discord entry point (Official)
NEXON's official game-guide site links its Discord/community entry point. User posts there are still user-generated discussion rather than guaranteed support answers; distinguish staff announcements and use NEXON support for account issues.
November 6, 2026: first publication, scoped NEXON's dated DXCache workaround to the documented Windows/NVIDIA RAM-growth symptom and called out the later 1.4.8 patch check. No PC was changed or benchmarked.
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