Dauntless to Shut Down on Nintendo Switch as Phoenix Labs Announces End of Service

Dauntless to Shut Down on Nintendo Switch as Phoenix Labs Announces End of Service Just ahead of the highly anticipated launch of Monster Hunter Wilds, Phoenix Labs has delivered significant news to the Nintendo Switch community: its co-op action RPG, Dauntless, will terminate service across all platforms, including the Nintendo Switch eShop, on May 29, 2025.

This decision closes a chapter for a title that, since its debut in December 2019, has built a dedicated following among action RPG enthusiasts, particularly those who appreciate monster-hunting experiences in the vein of Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise. Phoenix Labs, the Canadian studio also recognized for the cozy simulation Fae Farm, officially announced via Steam and other channels that Dauntless will receive no further updates or content drops.

"Dauntless will be shutting down on May 29, 2025.

After this date, the game will no longer be accessible, and there will be no new content updates," the development team confirmed in a recent statement.

The announcement marks the end of a nearly six-year journey for the free-to-play title, which garnered a strong player base thanks to its cross-platform multiplayer and engaging co-op hunts. At launch, Dauntless presented Nintendo Switch users with an accessible, free-to-play monster-hunting experience.

While some technical challenges were noted—chiefly performance dips compared to other platforms—players and critics alike highlighted the game’s enjoyable core loop and generous entry point.

Despite its technical shortcomings, Dauntless consistently offered rewarding gameplay and cemented itself as a viable alternative to genre staples on Nintendo’s hybrid console. As of this writing, Dauntless remains available for download from the Switch eShop and Nintendo’s official website.

However, with the shutdown scheduled for May 29, current and new players have a limited window to experience the game one last time.

This development comes in the wake of recent reports that Phoenix Labs laid off a significant portion of its staff in April 2025, compounding a period of transition for the studio. Over the past several years, Phoenix Labs established a reputation for developing games that foster community and collaborative play.

In addition to Dauntless, the studio’s work on Fae Farm has been well-received by players looking for novel, cooperative experiences on Nintendo Switch. The closure of Dauntless not only signals the end of a prominent era in cross-platform monster-hunting games but also serves as a reminder of the challenges that free-to-play developers face in sustaining long-term service games.

Players interested in experiencing Dauntless on Nintendo Switch or any other supported platform are encouraged to do so before the official shutdown date at the end of May 2025. For more updates on Phoenix Labs’ future projects and the evolving landscape of Nintendo Switch games, stay tuned to our coverage.

Nintendo Switch Dauntless Phoenix Labs Fae Farm Nintendo Switch