Phoenix Labs’ free-to-play monster-hunting title Dauntless will finally launch natively on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on December 2. The next-gen launch also brings cross-play and cross-progression to Dauntless on a total of seven different platforms.
Dauntless has been playable on PlayStation 5 since the console’s launch in November 2020 thanks to backwards compatibility with its PS4 version. However, the new native PS5 version will bring along a suite of upgrades to make it worth players’ while to switch platforms. In terms of graphics, the PS5 version brings dynamic 4K resolution targeting 60 fps, as well as new effects to improve the appearance of the Shattered Isles. These include new lighting and atmospheres, increased view distance, the addition of volumetric fog, improved shadows, and better environment textures for trees, water, and grass.
Load times have been decreased on next-gen by up to 90%, and the console’s Activities Menu will allow players to jump straight into select hunts. There will also be a brand new set of trophies (including a Platinum), 3D Audio, and the DualSense controller hasn’t been forgotten either. The haptic feedback will be affected by a player’s stamina. Adaptive triggers will let players feel the resistance of empowered Repeater ammo. Radio callouts will be played through the speaker and elemental effects will be represented by the lights.
As well as the next-gen version, the latest Call to Arms update will launch on December 2 too. This will introduce a new Behemoth known as Sahvyt, improvements to the Chain Blades weapon, the Krolachi Warlords Hunt Pass, more quests, new challenges, and other bug fixes and gameplay improvements. The update will also add 36 new trophies to the PlayStation 4 version of the game. Phoenix Labs has promised more information on this update as they get closer to launch, although there isn’t much time to do that over the next three days.
[Source: PlayDauntless, PlayStation Blog]