Another Live-Service Game Is Shutting Down, With Dauntless Going Offline Soon

Dauntless, the free-to-play Monster Hunter-like from developer Phoenix Labs, will shut down May 29.

In a short and to-the-point statement from the official Dauntless X account, it was made clear the game would not be receiving any new content or updates, and that the game will be unplayable after May 29.

"Thanks to all for being a part of the Dauntless journey," the statement concludes.

Dauntless originally released on PC via Epic Games Store and consoles in 2019, and made a splash thanks to it being a more approachable take on the giant monster-slaying gameplay and progression found in Capcom's Monster Hunter series. It was also an early adopter of cross-progression and cross-play between platforms.

The shutdown comes two months after Dauntless launched on Steam to "overwhelmingly negative" user reviews, with many players criticizing the game's new monetization structure and the decision to wipe player progression as part of its recent Awakening update.

News that Dauntless will soon be unplayable comes just a few weeks after it was announced that a "majority" of developers at Phoenix Labs had been let go in the latest round of layoffs at the studio, with the studio having previously undergone layoffs in 2023 and 2024. Phoenix Labs was acquired by the blockchain company Forte Labs in 2023.

"We recognize and deeply appreciate the contributions of every individual impacted," Phoenix Labs said in a statement announcing the "unfortunate but necessary" layoffs. "Their talent, dedication, and creativity have left an indelible mark on our company and our games."

Phoenix Labs has not yet said what will happen to Fae Farm, its farming sim released 2023. In its statement about studio layoffs, Phoenix Labs said it would share more about the future of Fae Farm "in the coming weeks."