I wish I could tell you I didn't see this one coming. But Dauntless, a free action RPG in the vein of Monster Hunter, is coming to an end this May. The news came from the game's official X account today:
Important update: Dauntless is shutting down on May 29, 2025. Dauntless will receive no additional content or updates.
— Dauntless (@PlayDauntless) February 24, 2025
Dauntless will no longer be available to play on and after May 29, 2025 at 11:45PM PST.
Thanks to all for being a part of the Dauntless journey.
Further explanation game on Discord:
"This was not an easy decision, and we want to express our gratitude to our players, partners, and the talented developers who brought Dauntless to life. To our community, your passion, creativity, and dedication made Dauntless more than just a game - it became a shared world and a place where friendships were forged. We know there were times we didn’t get it right, but we always strived to give you the best experience we could. We are thankful for your feedback, patience, and support over the years."
One of those times they "didn't get it right" may have been the game's deathknell. A December 2024 update fundamentally changed the way weapons worked in the game. At its core, Dauntless was about hunting monsters and using the resources gained from them to craft weapons and armor.
The December update removed weapon crafting, replacing the ones players had painstakingly created with new weapons. Some of those new weapons, stop me if you've heard this one - would be behind a battle pass. The player base understandably rebelled. Steam reviews have now taken Dauntless to a 2/10 rating.
Many players believe the downward spiral coincided with blockchain company Forte Labs 2023 purchaser of Dauntless developer Phoenix Labs. There was a wave of layoffs in May 2024, followed by the majority of remaining staff getting laid last off last month. Today's announcement was sad, but not shocking with recent developments at the company.