Death of a Game: Evolve
nerdSlayer Studios・2 minutes read
Turtle Rock Studios created Evolve, a multiplayer shooter game that failed to meet expectations due to monetization issues and lack of content, ultimately leading to its closure despite efforts to revive it.
Insights
- Evolve, developed by Turtle Rock Studios, faced challenges due to its unique four versus one gameplay dynamics, financial constraints, and controversial monetization strategies, ultimately leading to its failure despite initial positive attention and high anticipation.
- The transition of Evolve to a free-to-play model as Evolve Stage 2 aimed to address accessibility and player engagement issues but failed to reverse the declining player numbers, ultimately culminating in Turtle Rock Studios announcing the end of support for the game due to challenges as a AAA developer without IP ownership.
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Recent questions
What is the gameplay concept of Evolve?
Evolve features four hunters versus one evolving monster.
What were the criticisms of Evolve's business model?
Evolve faced backlash for high prices and microtransactions.
How did Evolve's player population evolve over time?
Evolve experienced declining player numbers despite initial hype.
What led to the transition of Evolve to a free-to-play model?
Evolve shifted to free-to-play as Evolve Stage 2 to boost engagement.
What were the challenges faced by Turtle Rock Studios with Evolve?
Turtle Rock Studios encountered limitations in updating Evolve.
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Summary
00:00
Evolve: Rise and Fall of Turtle Rock
- Turtle Rock Studios, previously Valve South, created the co-op zombie shooting game Left 4 Dead before evolving into an independent studio.
- Evolve, a four versus one asymmetric multiplayer shooter, was developed by Turtle Rock Studios in collaboration with THQ, later acquired by Take Two.
- Despite high expectations and initial success, Evolve fell short of projections, leading to its support being cut off after just two years.
- The game's focus on four hunters versus one monster, with different classes and evolving gameplay, set it apart in the gaming market.
- Evolve's gameplay dynamics shifted as the game progressed, with hunters initially stronger and the monster growing in power over time.
- The game's development was influenced by financial constraints, leading to a shift from a more ambitious project to a multiplayer shooter.
- Evolve's showcase at E3 2014 garnered positive attention and awards, but concerns arose about the game's content and monetization strategies.
- Evolve faced delays in its launch, allowing for additional testing and refinement, with alpha testing receiving positive responses.
- The introduction of the Evacuation game mode aimed to provide variety and longevity to the gameplay experience.
- Evolve's business model, including a high price tag, microtransactions, planned DLC, and pre-order incentives, faced criticism for its monetization strategies and perceived lack of content.
12:59
Evolve: Rise, Fall, and Shutdown
- Evolve Hunter's Quest, initially intended as a companion app, was mistakenly perceived as a spin-off game, causing concerns about revenue and partnership issues.
- Turtle Rock released a video showcasing different ways to play Evolve single-player, which received mixed feedback due to perceived deficiencies compared to Left 4 Dead.
- Evolve debuted on February 10, 2015, with high anticipation but fell short of expectations, receiving mixed reviews from critics and users.
- Despite some positive reviews, concerns arose about the game's longevity, especially due to controversies surrounding microtransactions and excessive DLC.
- Evolve's player population peaked at 27,403 players on Steam, but failed to meet expectations, leading to doubts about its potential success.
- Efforts to establish Evolve as an esport through tournaments and competitive scenes faced challenges due to declining player numbers and gameplay issues.
- By May 2015, Evolve had sold 2.5 million copies, with plans for continued support and new content, including the introduction of an Arena mode.
- The introduction of the Arena mode aimed to address gameplay issues but failed to fully resolve concerns about repetitive gameplay and player burnout.
- Evolve transitioned to a free-to-play model in July 2016, known as Evolve Stage 2, to boost accessibility and player engagement, but player numbers continued to decline.
- Turtle Rock Studios announced the end of support for Evolve in October 2016, citing challenges as a AAA developer without ownership of their IP, leading to the game's eventual shutdown in September 2018.
25:30
"Evolve's Failure: External Constraints and Missed Opportunities"
- Matt Colville, lead writer on Evolve, detailed reasons for the game's failure on June 5th, 2018.
- Turtle Rock Studios faced limitations in updating the game, restricted to updates every three months, hindering necessary changes and fixes.
- Colville believed Evolve had no inherent flaws at launch that couldn't be fixed with live updates, implying external constraints impacted the game's success.
- Suggestions were made for alternative game designs that could have potentially garnered more success, highlighting missed opportunities in Evolve's development.
