Dauntless launches with cross-play on PC and consoles

Dauntless, the free-to-play monster slayer, has launched on the Epic Games Store and consoles today, and the good news is that it doesn't really matter where you get the game, you'll be able to play with everyone else and keep your progress.

Games rarely launch with any kind of cross-platform bells and whistles, so it's a novelty to see one launch with both cross-platform and cross-progression support. It helps that it's had a year in open beta on PC, and smaller tests before that.

I played for a couple of weeks last year and found it a refreshing change of pace from Monster Hunter, which tasks you with doing a lot of legwork before getting to fight some monsters. Dauntless just lets you pick your bounty and then it sends you to a map where the monster awaits. There's a bit of stalking your prey, but mostly it's about the confrontation. It has more immediate thrills, though there's a lot to be said for Monster Hunter's more drawn out hunts.

Today's launch also coincides with a campaign rework, with various fundamental systems getting big updates. There's a also new set of rewards available in the Hidden Blades Hunt Pass, Dauntless's version of a battle pass, which has free and premium tracks you can work your way down.

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.