Dauntless – the free-to-play Monster Hunter-like from Phoenix Labs – is due to permanently migrate to the Epic Store. Previously only available direct from its developers, its old launcher will be retired, and players will be transferred over to Epic’s account system, though no date has been announced. Working with Epic has its perks; once it launches on PS4 and Xbox One, it’ll offer full cross-platform multiplayer, hopefully ensuring that there’ll be plenty of people to play with. You can see the full announcement here, with info on how migration works if you’ve played before (or down below).

IN BRIEF

• Dauntless accounts will be migrating to the Epic Games store this year.

• The current Dauntless patcher will be retired after all accounts are migrated.

• You will use your new Epic Games account to log in to Dauntless in the future.

• For extra questions, check the FAQ at the end of this article.

Dauntless Comes to Console

Back in December 2018, we announced that Dauntless was coming to console later this year. We’re thrilled to have players from Xbox One and PlayStation 4 join the already vibrant community of Slayers on PC. If you didn’t get a chance to check out our announcement trailer, watch it here.

Dauntless — Console Announce Trailer | PlayStation 4 & Xbox One

When we started building Dauntless over four years ago, we had a vision: No matter where you were in the world or which platform you were playing on, you would be able to play with your friends. Epic Games blazed a trail by delivering the first game with true cross-play on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, mobile, and Nintendo Switch. We are grateful to partner with them on Dauntless.

Evolution of the Shattered Isles

For now, you will still play Dauntless with your current account through the same patcher.

Leading up to launch, we will be converting all Dauntless accounts to Epic Games accounts. If you already have an Epic Games account, you’ll be able to merge your two accounts into one. All of your progress will carry over so you can seamlessly continue your adventure.

Once all accounts are migrated, we will retire the existing Dauntless patcher. Logging in will happen through the Epic Games store app, found here.

With Dauntless officially on the Epic Games store, you will be able to use your Epic friends list to see their status, chat, and more – all from within Dauntless. We’re also excited to participate in Epic Games’ Support-A-Creator program, a way to give back even more to our amazing Partners and content creators.

For everything else, we’ve put together this handy FAQ to guide you through the upcoming migration. If you notice anything that’s missing, let us know on the forums.

Evolution of the Shattered Isles

How do I log in to Dauntless right now?
For now, you should continue to log in and play through the existing Dauntless patcher.

I have an Epic Account and a Dauntless account. How do I combine them?
In the weeks leading up to our console and Epic Games store launches, you will be able to link your Dauntless account to an Epic Games account via the Dauntless website.

When will the migration happen?
We don’t have an exact date yet, but we’re hoping to start the migration process as soon as possible. The more time we can give you, the better.

If I migrate early will it prevent me from logging in to the Dauntless patcher?
Nope! You will still be able to log in to the Dauntless patcher with your usual Dauntless credentials.

What’s the benefit to migrating early?
In addition to helping us test the process, you’ll be able to reserve your username on the Epic Games store. We’ve also been talking to the Middleman in Ramsgate to see what “extras” he can dig up for us.

What will happen to my Dauntless friends list?
Our current plan is to automatically import your Dauntless friends list into the Epic Games store. If we can’t make that happen (worst case scenario), you will need to re-add your friends after they complete their account migrations.

What happens if I migrate my account and my name is taken?
You will have to choose a new name in this case.

What will happen to my guild?
While some player names may change, guilds will persist. Everyone that you added before the migration will still be in your guild once we launch on console and the Epic Games store.

Will my platinum balance carry over?
All platinum earned in-game (e.g. via the Hunt Pass) can be spent on any platform you choose. Purchased platinum can only be spent on the platform from which it was obtained. This means that any platinum you bought on PC will only be available to spend on PC. Likewise, if you were to purchase platinum on PlayStation 4, you would only be able to spend it on PlayStation 4 – not Xbox One or PC.

What happens if I don’t migrate my account?
Migrating your account is the only way to ensure that all your progress from Dauntless carries over after we launch on console and the Epic Games store.

This is a lot to take in. What’s the summary?

1. If you don’t have an Epic Games account, you can create one today.
2. Later this year, you can migrate your Dauntless account to the Epic Games store.
3. Once we have officially launched on console and the Epic Games store, you will use your Epic Games account to log in to Dauntless.

From the sounds of Phoenix Labs’s announcement, the migration won’t be especially hurried, and they’ve got no firm date nailed down for it yet. As far as I can tell, there’s no real down-side to this, and the main perk for players is cross-platform play under a unified account system. Dauntless will be in good company alongside Fortnite, especially considering how similar its new seasonal ‘hunt pass’ system looks to the battle royale juggernaut. It’s a format that seems increasingly popular in the free-to-play sphere, and seems a good fit for a game about looking cool while you fight.

Hunt Pass Season One: Frostfall

Of course, this doesn’t change the fact that Dauntless is now up against the leviathan that is Monster Hunter: World on Steam. Being free-to-play gives it an advantage, and its breezy, grind-light approach to bashing big critters helps set it apart (see Edwin’s preview from back in 2017). After eighteen years on consoles, it’s made a surprising splash here, and any competitor is going to have to bring its A-game, although perhaps the interest in Monster Hunter might expand the market. It’ll be interesting to see how the game stacks up against its monstrous rival when it properly launches later this year.

In the meantime, Dauntless is available now, free-to-play and in open beta. Find it on its official page here. There’s no date for it yet, but when it makes the hop to the Epic Store, you’ll find it here.