There’s still 10 hours to go on Evolve’s countdown timer, but it looks like the news is exactly what you’re probably expecting it to be. Evolve is going to become a free-to-play game.
In a letter to the community, Turtle Rock co-founders Chris Ashton and Phil Robb explain why and how the game is going to become a free one. They don’t specifically use the words “free to play,” but that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
They realise that Evolve didn’t quite have the reception they had hoped for.
“…when Evolve launched, the reception wasn’t what we expected. Sure, there were some good reviews. There were also bad reviews. Yes, there was excitement. There was also disappointment – for players and for us. The DLC shitstorm hit full force and washed away people’s enthusiasm, dragging us further and further from that first magical pick-up-and-play experience.”
Evolve has already been pulled from Steam (the page is up, but you’re no longer able to buy it), and later today, a beta for the free version of Evolve is going live. If you own the game, don’t stress too much. People who bought the game will be given founder’s status and granted rewards.
“We’re going to make Evolve free on PC as a Beta starting on July 7. This is going to allow us to hit our new server infrastructure really hard and we need your help testing. Stuff could break, and that’s our hope, because that will give us time to improve things as we go. We’ll parse out major Beta revisions, updates and features over a period of weeks and months — a plan we’re going to continually communicate here.
This allows us to test new features and major changes to make our game more accessible and ever closer to the joy we saw when we first showed our baby to the world. Just as importantly, this Beta plan gives us the flexibility and time we need to keep fixing bugs and making Evolve more stable.”
In addition to going free to play, there are some other big changes and reworks coming to the game to entice players in – and hopefully keep them playing. Here’s an example of the changes:
- We’re reworking the hunter classes to make the team less reliant on having experienced trappers and medics.
- We’re making improvements to the maps and UI.
- We’re improving load times, overall performance, and getting you into the game faster.
- We’re focusing on improving stability and fixing bugs.
- We’re completely reworking our progression system and tutorials.
- We’re adding more customization options
There’s no word on what’ll happen with the console versions – so questions on how console players will get founder’s status and when the free-to-play version will launch in that space are still a mystery. If we’re being frank, this maybe just the shot to the arm that Evolve needs. The core game idea is a solid one, it just needs more tuning and a larger player base – and going free to play should help with both of those.
Last Updated: July 7, 2016
PoisonedBelial
July 7, 2016 at 07:38
Does this mean that Geoff will now play, and possibly love, Evolve?
Geoffrey Tim
July 7, 2016 at 07:48
Already played it. Liked it for a few hours. Done.
PoisonedBelial
July 7, 2016 at 08:04
But now you could like it for a few more…
PoisonedBelial
July 7, 2016 at 07:39
That headline should have read: Evolve is Evolving…
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 7, 2016 at 07:42
Dammit, should have bought it for R25 the other day, for the “founder” status haha
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:43
This game was two E3 awards away from me buying it
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 7, 2016 at 07:44
xD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:43
Poor Turtle Rock
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/0MxGVwL_700w_0.jpg
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:43
It was only a matter of time. Still probably won’t try it though.
Maybe TESO will be next then they can make a real Elder Scrolls game for us.
Geoffrey Tim
July 7, 2016 at 07:47
TESO went free to play in jan last year.
http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/bethesda-drops-the-elder-scrolls-online-subscription-fees/
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:48
You still need to buy it. I’m not talking about no subscription. I’m talking about proper Free to Play
Geoffrey Tim
July 7, 2016 at 07:49
Fair point.
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:51
It’s moer expensive though. I played near 20 hours on it with the beta, but it just never really pulled me in, otherwise I might have considered it after the subs dropped.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 7, 2016 at 07:48
Don’t you need to buy the game, but the sub is free?
Geoffrey Tim
July 7, 2016 at 07:49
yeah, no monthly subs.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:48
Seems like no one really cared 😛
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:44
But how is this supposed to stop us playing Overwatch?
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:48
I don’t even know how you started 😛
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:49
Peer pressure, then I found out how fun it was
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:51
Hehe. I honestly don’t know, I’m just messing with you. 🙂
Sageville
July 7, 2016 at 10:05
However, It did produce “Hulk-Hammer” – Hammer’s Overwatch persona…
I’m copywriting the Origins story and all future movie rights….
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 7, 2016 at 07:46
I’d be really keen to jam with 4 friends, but one of them needs to be host (the one with the fastest line of course)
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:47
Noo! You lie! 😀
I’d be willing to play as the monster. Feels like I’ll do it justice.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 7, 2016 at 07:48
That will be no challenge, more like duck hunt 😛
Captain JJ off track
July 7, 2016 at 07:49
Quack quack motherf***er
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 7, 2016 at 07:50
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/6/69/Duck-hunt-dog.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140911080038
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:50
Noooooo!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:50
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/laughing_dog_duck_hunt_.gif
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 7, 2016 at 07:46
The game died in reconrd time anyway, might as well put it on life support
http://steamcharts.com/app/273350#1m
Dane
July 7, 2016 at 07:52
Actually really excited! I enjoyed it a lot but latency prevented me from playing online. Games with bots were predictable and repetitive. Shoot it with this, shoot it with that, use your special. Repeat.
Nick de Bruyne
July 7, 2016 at 08:05
*all alone*: Yay!
HairyEwok
July 7, 2016 at 09:00
Should’ve been free to play from release day.
Draylynn
July 7, 2016 at 09:55
And another gaming company that just decided to kick every one of it’s previous customer base in the teeth. GJ.