Both gamers and our own writers agree that the Dauntless Awakening update is just plain awful, with limited weapon options, hamstrung build crafting features, and overly aggressive monetization practices like the return of a FOMO battle pass and new lockboxes, all culminating in a continued browbeating of the game on Steam’s reviews and player numbers on the platform crashing into the ground.
Developer Phoenix Labs had already put out a series of small adjustments just a day after the update went live, but now the studio is planning even more updates in what it calls an attempt to earn back trust. Returning players will be getting several immediate stipends: 300,000 rams, 5,000 combat merits, and up to 500 peerless aetherite to improve weapons based on prior weapon crafting progress. Phoenix Labs will also unlock all game modes without forcing vets to push through the introductory quest line that is coming in an update planned for early next year.
The dev blog further breaks down what Phoenix Labs will be doing going forward to address several other player complaints:
- Update 2.1.1 will remove the need for Gauntlet-specific steel marks currencies to unlock Tier 3 weapon talents.
- More rams will be given out for completing activities and slaying Behemoths.
- More weapon tokens (the currency used to buy new weapons) will be given out from “variable sources” including the Frostfall event.
- Multiple fixes are coming to address bugs and performance.
- Some armor perks will be swapped to better increase build diversity, alongside targeted buffs to certain perks and weapons.
The more long-term plans are a bit more nebulous in some cases, as the studio says it is reassessing the cells system and “exploring ways to bring more depth and player agency back to weapon and armor crafting and customization systems,” while the monetization section claims that the devs are “reevaluating monetization strategies to balance sustainability with fairness while remaining rewarding for players” and bring more value to the hunt pass. This section does confirm that the next pass will bring back cash shop currency as a reward, offering 100 platinum for free players and another 100 platinum for the elite track.
Other future plans include another tutorial revamp, the promise to continue analyzing player feedback and activity, and updates that seek to make progression more rewarding and easier for all players.
“Moving forward, we are committed to refining feedback loops, placing players at the center of the game, and ensuring Dauntless reflects the passion of its community,” the post closes. “Together, we’ll create a game that all Slayers can be proud to call home.”
While some players have expressed some thanks for the initial plans, many more are arguing that these adjustments primarily miss the point of what’s broken with Dauntless, arguing that the game’s original weapon crafting should come back and calling the initial currency handouts a pacifier and not a fix.
