Jul 11 2019
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Dauntless Fortune & Glory Update Adds Trials and New Season

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Dauntless, the free-to-play Monster Hunter-like, is getting its first major content update, called Fortune & Glory, next week on July 16. The update will add Trials as a new high-challenge gameplay mode, as well as ushering in the next season with an all new Hunt Pass of unlockable goodies.

If you can’t already tell by the name, Fortune & Glory adds a swashbuckling pirate theme, beginning with the arrival of the pirate queen Lady Luck. Lady Luck has brought an entire island to the edge of the city Ramsgate. The island is home to the new Trials gameplay mode. Trials will feature stronger, modified behemoths with unique environmental challenges and a ticking clock.

Trials are split between Normal and Dauntless. Completing normal trials rewards Steel Marks, which can be used to purchase unique rewards added in the Fortune & Glory update, such as alternate weapon attacks. Dauntless trials reward Gilded Marks which can be redeemed for even greater cosmetic rewards. These rewards can only be earned through completing trials.

Trials also feature their own leaderboard on the Wall of Champions near Lady Luck’s new shop. Trials rotate every week, giving slayers a chance to get their name emblazoned on the wall.

The Fortune & Glory update also starts the next Hunt Season, called High Skies. High Skies features two consecutive 50-item Hunt Passes. The first bears the same name as the event itself, and is tied to Lady Luck. The second Hunt Pass is called Zephyr Strike and will start sometime in August. Elite Hunt Passes cost 1,000 platinum to purchase, and include 50 unlockable cosmetic items to progress through (think Fortnite’s Battle Passes).

Dauntless is available on PC (Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and features cross platform play and progression. It’s rated T for Teen.

May 24 2019
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dauntless

Dauntless Welcomes Half a Million New Players On Launch Day

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Phoenix Labs announced that over half a million new players joined up to hunt monsters in the Shattered Isles in the first 24 hours of Dauntless’ release on May 21. This brings the total number of players for the free-to-play monster hunting game to over four million worldwide, following a year-long stint in beta. Those numbers equate to over 2 million hours played and 3 million hunts.

Dauntless is a free-to-play co-op action-RPG. Players take on the role of slayers to join forces and hunt large monsters, known as behemoths, choosing from several different weapon styles. The free-to-play game is supported by seasonal hunt passes, which can be purchased to unlock a seasonal progression system full of cosmetic items. If this sounds like a cross between Fortnite and Monster Hunter, you’re on the right track.

One of Dauntless’ biggest perks is cross-platform and cross-progression between PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The developers refer to it as One Dauntless. By linking an Epic Games account you can play with anyone on any platform, and your progress and characters will carry over between devices.

“After a year in Open Beta and a ton of great feedback from over 3 million Dauntless players, we’re proud to bring our game to console and expand our PC audience through the Epic Games store,” said Jesse Houston, CEO and Co-founder, Phoenix Labs. “When we first started talking about ‘One Dauntless,’ we knew it was a truly audacious goal. No one has ever launched on console with full cross-play support from the start, but we believed in our vision and, thankfully, our friends at Epic Games, Sony, and Microsoft did too. Keeping the community connected is one of our top priorities, and with all the new players coming in at launch, there’s never been a better time to be a Slayer in Dauntless.”

Dauntless is available for free on PC (Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It’s also coming later to Switch and mobile devices.

May 14 2019
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dauntless

Free-to-Play Monster Hunter Dauntless Launching Next Week

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After a year-long stint in open beta, Phoenix Labs have announced the official release date for Dauntless. It will launch as a free-to-play game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Epic Games Store) on May 21.

Dauntless is a free-to-play Monster Hunter-like online co-op action game where players team up to take down large creatures called behemoths. Like Monster Hunter, players can utilize different weapons and styles, and craft new gear from monster parts. Unlike the Monster Hunter series, Dauntless is a free-to-play, supported by seasonal battle passes, called Hunt Passes.

Every season you can purchase (with real money) a new Hunt Pass to unlock 50 levels of cosmetic rewards. If that sounds like Fortnite, you’re exactly right.

The launch of Dauntless on May 21 will also end Hunt Pass Season 4 and begin Season 5: Hidden Blades. Hidden Blades adds the Moon Blossom Festival to the Shattered Isles. Slayers can look for ninja-themed gear in the Hunt Pass.

The official launch will also add various improvements, updates, and a campaign rework. Missions will provide a new End of Hunt screen to help provide details on Mastery Card quests, quest rewards, and monster parts. The new Master System lets Slayers earn experience, unlock achievements, and acquire new rewards from weapons and Behemoths.

Dauntless, and Season 5, launches on May 21.

May 06 2019
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splitgate

Portal-Meets-Halo Shooter Splitgate: Arena Warfare Launching as Free-to-Play

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Indie developer 1047 Games announced that competitive shooter Splitgate: Arena Warfare will be launching as a free-to-play game on PC (Steam) on May 22.

“As Splitgate evolved, we realized that players would be best served with a free-to-play model. We want to ensure that everyone who wants to play has the opportunity to do so,” said Ian Proulx, CEO, 1047 Games. “Rest assured this will not detract from its hyper-competitive design – all items for sale in the game are purely cosmetic.”

Spiltgate is succinctly described as competitive Halo meets Portal. It features a (now) old school multiplayer shooter design combined with portal guns to zip around the arenas. Combatants keep their momentum as they create their own linked portals and hurtle through the arena to grab weapons and flank opponents.

The free to play model will be supported by a real money loot store where players can purchase cosmetic skins for weapons, gear, and armor.

Splitgate: Arena Warfare will launch on PC on May 22, and include a competitive W-L ranking system. Other consoles are being considered. The game has not been rated by the ESRB. Read about our hands-on preview for Splitgate back in January.

Jul 05 2018
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darwin project

Darwin Project Now Free-to-Play on Xbox One

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Ten-person Battle Royale Darwin Project is now free-to-play on Xbox One. The game was originally a paid purchase when it launched earlier this year, but has recently transitioned into a free-to-play model on PC, and now on Xbox.

If you already purchased Darwin Project, you’ll be compensated via a Founder’s Pack. The Founder’s Pack includes several outfits, including full Montreal Hockey gear for both male and female characters as well as ten Fan Gift loot boxes that include more cosmetic items.

Darwin Project is a smaller scale Battle Royale PvP game. It pits 10 players in a Hunger Games–like arena, with an 11th player dropping in as the Director. The Director is able to manipulate the environment as well as bestow buffs and drop goodies.

On both PC and Xbox, Scavengers Studio is celebrating the World Cup with soccer-themed skins. They can be found in the Fan Gift loot boxes, or puchsed directly in the Item Shop. The soccer sportswear will be available until July 12.

Scavengers Studio is aiming to keep the PC and Xbox versions updated simultaneously, but PC is typically easier and faster to patch and update.

When I spoke to Scavengers Studio creative director Simon Davreau at PAX South in January, he was adamant that Darwin Project would not be a free-to-play title. Obviously things changed in the weeks since its launch, but the indie Canadian team is committed to supporting the game.

Darwin Project is now free-to-play on PC and Xbox One. It has not been rated by the ESRB, but I’d put it at the same rating level as Fortnite (T for Teen).