Dauntless, Monster Hunter alternative, will shut down in May
Dauntless developers, Pheonix Labs, announce that its Monster Hunter-like RPG will shut down in May this year.
In a post on X, Pheonix Labs publicized that it was pulling the plug on Dauntless come May 29, 2025, at 11:45 PM PST.
Important update: Dauntless is shutting down on May 29, 2025. Dauntless will receive no additional content or updates.
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.
— Dauntless (@PlayDauntless) February 24, 2025
An admin post from the official Dauntless Discord server reads: “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.”
What happened to Dauntless?
The game recently launched its major update, Dauntless: Awakening, bringing major changes to systems and content.
Dauntless used to be the free-to-play alternative to the popular Monster Hunter series, offering the same boss battle experience with a more cartoonish style. It was also considered one of the best free titles available on Switch.
Dauntless’ downfall can be traced back to 2023 when Pheonix Labs was acquired by a blockchain company, Forte Labs. Not even a year later later and the studio faced its first wave of layoffs in May 2024, alongside the cancellation of a game years into development.
December 2024 marked a turning point for Dauntless, as the RPG released one of its most controversial updates that reworked the game’s core systems. The removal of weapon crafting resulted in an “overwhelmingly negative” review score on Steam.
Reports also highlighted how Forte Labs wanted to introduce blockchain technology into Dauntless. Though it never saw the light of day, one can imagine that the already soured sentiment over the game could have been much worse if it had been added.
The final nail in the coffin was when the majority of staff at Phoenix Labs were laid off near the beginning of 2025. Since then, fans have braced for the inevitable: Dauntless shutting down for good.
Featured image: Pheonix Labs
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