Things had gone a bit quiet on the Dauntless front – last time we checked in, the game’s closed alpha had just gone live, back in August. Now Phoenix Labs is about ready to throw the doors open on their colorful monster-hunting co-op romp, with an open beta set to launch May 24.
The Shattered Isles can be a little confusing at first, so check out our guide to getting started in Dauntless.
Dauntless is a game about hunting and killing gigantic and legally-distinct beasts called behemoths across an archipelago of floating islands called the Shattered Isles. You accept quests, head out on flying steampunk airships, slay ravenous behemoths, and bring home materials to use to craft beefier weapons and armor.
While the finished game will be free-to-play, up until now you’ve needed to either buy a Founder’s Pack or get an invitation from someone who has one in order to play. Once the open beta goes live, anyone will be able to sign up and play for free.
Naturally, this will mark the end of the Dauntless “Founders Program,” which has let players who’ve bought in test the game and provide feedback. Phoenix Labs say it’s been a success, with more than 100,000 players having played the game and 700,000 already signed up for the open beta.
If all this sounds like a good time, and you’re maybe getting a bit antsy waiting for Monster Hunter: World to come out on PC, you can sign up over at the official Dauntless site.