Free-to-play Monster Hunter alternative Daring has had an unexpectedly poor launch on Steam, prompting developer Phoenix Labs to publish a comprehensive roadmap outlining their plans for improvement.
When I first experienced Daring a few years ago, I considered it a fairly enjoyable Monster Hunter alternative. You could traverse landscapes with friends and hunt giant monsters, using materials they left behind to enhance your weapons and armor. It was a straightforward system, yet it functioned well. The art style was appealing, the combat, while not as intricate as that in Monster Hunter, remained engaging, and an array of weapons was at your disposal. However, the Steam launch that coincided with the full game release and Awakening update altered much of that.
“Where did all the content disappear to?” asked one frustrated player after the update was implemented. The developers explained their aim to make each weapon feel more significant, but players felt as if they were being exploited and directed toward the game’s monetization strategy. Additionally, all progress was reset, making those hours players invested in the game feel entirely wasted.
Phoenix Labs admits it “missed the mark,” and they are now detailing how things will evolve moving forward. While this is a good initial step, I must confess, I am not optimistic that the game I once cherished will return.
The roadmap opens with an apology. “With the Awakening update, we understand that many of you have felt disappointed. For those who believe your time, effort, and trust were disregarded, we truly apologize.”
Regrettably, the system that has likely undergone the most changes, weapon crafting, does not appear to have a promising future. Although the developers claim its removal has “disrupted the core gameplay loop,” plans for future updates remain vague: “Exploring methods to reintroduce depth and player control to weapon and armor crafting and customization systems.”
If you are considering returning to the game, you may not get your full progress restored. Instead, you will receive 300,000 Rams, 5,000 Combat Tokens, 500 Peerless Aetherite, and all game modes will be unlocked in an upcoming update expected early next year. This is a far cry from the extensive gear you may have spent hours crafting, but it is a start.
To address monetization issues, Aetherite claims will be available for free, and various balance adjustments are being made to make different currencies more attainable and useful, even for those who do not spend money on the game.
These changes are a beginning, but since Phoenix Labs was acquired last year by a blockchain company that subsequently laid off many developers, the situation seems to have declined and may not be improving anytime soon. A former developer even spoke out regarding the Awakening update, stating, “We would never have made decisions that were so overtly not player-focused.”
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