In 2017, Dauntless burst onto the gaming scene and garnered praise as the long-awaited PC version of Monster Hunter. However, its shine quickly dimmed with the announcement of Monster Hunter: World coming to PC. According to senior editor Wes Fenlon's assessment in 2019, "Monster Hunter: World is simply the deeper, bigger, richer game." Adding to Dauntless' woes, the game remains exclusive to the Epic Games Store, while its competitor is available on Steam.

The introduction of Fae Farm in 2023 aimed to revitalize Dauntless' player base and reclaim lost ground. While the game received positive feedback, its player numbers on Steam have been disappointing. Initially achieving an average concurrent player count of just over 2,000 during its first month, Fae Farm has struggled to garner significant interest, with average concurrent players plummeting to below 200 since January 2024.

This underwhelming performance is a blow to Dauntless, which had hoped that Fae Farm's release on Steam would attract both new and returning players. The dwindling numbers suggest that players looking for a similar gaming experience continue to flock to Monster Hunter: World, a game that offers more depth and content.

Industry experts have been closely monitoring the situation, and many have opined that Dauntless' exclusivity to the Epic Games Store has hindered its ability to compete effectively with Monster Hunter: World's availability on Steam. Steam's vast user base and established reputation as a gaming platform have proven advantageous for many game developers, making it increasingly challenging for Dauntless to maintain a competitive edge.

As the gaming industry rapidly evolves, it is crucial for developers to adapt and continuously deliver engaging experiences that capture the attention and loyalty of players. While Dauntless showed promise initially, it now faces the harsh reality of an unsuccessful launch on Steam and an uphill battle against a dominant competitor.

Only time will tell if Dauntless can bounce back from this setback and regain its footing in the highly competitive genre. However, one thing remains clear: the gaming landscape is fierce, and developers must innovate and deliver captivating experiences to stay relevant in an ever-evolving industry.

[Disclaimer: All information and quotes mentioned in this article are sourced from the provided text.]