Evolve switches to free-to-play model
"The DLC shitstorm hit full force and washed away people's enthusiasm"
Four versus one shooter Evolve disappeared from Steam yesterday, today we found it why. The game has switched to a free-to-play model, with a beta starting today.
"It means we've been listening and now we're taking Evolve in the direction that a lot of you have suggested since the beginning. We're making Evolve free on PC. No buy-in or box required," said developer Turtle Rock's Chris Ashton and Phil Robb in a community update.
Evolve was released in February 2015 but upset, and at best confused, the community with three different tiers of editions and a season pass.
"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," the founders say now.
Anyone who bought Evolve previously will get "Founder" status in the free-to-play version, as well as access to all the content they already own and rewards in the future.
"Here's how it's going to work: 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."