14 DAY TRIAL // The development team at Turtle Rock and publisher 2K Games made some potential players of their upcoming Evolve angry last week when they revealed the downloadable content strategy for the shooter and the company is now aiming to offer some clarifications for those who have been critical of their choices.
Phil Robb, a co-founder of Turtle Rock Studios, writes on the official forums that none of the announced content will be ready when the title is first offered via digital stores and retail chains.
He adds, “If we thought we could have finished all those monsters and hunters for ship we would have put them in the box. (Keep in mind, we pretty much have to have the game done about 2-3 months before it's available to you guys...we can keep fixing bugs and such, but content is locked.) The bundles that include 4th and 5th monsters, hunters, etc., just mean that when they are done and we put 'em out, you get 'em.”
The development process for both new monsters and hunters in Evolve is apparently a complex one, which will involve all the team after the title is out and will give Turtle Rock something to work on for the benefit of the community.
Robb also explains that his company will never split the community, which means that all new game modes and all new maps are free but a price needs to be attached to other content.
The developer explains, “You may not want to buy it, but your original purchase of the game will be enhanced by it anyway because you can still get into games with people who wanted to buy them. Hell, you can even set the DLC characters and monsters up as opponents in solo games.”
He also offers a quick history of his company since it parted ways with Valve and explains the pressure that the current gaming industry is working under.
Paid Evolve content will not be overpowered
The team also makes it clear that the coming DLC characters will not be overpowered in order to make them more attractive to gamers.
Turtle Rock actively plans to tweak the balance of the title after launch based on community feedback.
Evolve is a game which pits a team of four humans, who can play a variety of roles, against one powerful monster, with various types delivering options and choices.
The two sides will engage in asymmetrical battles where cooperation and long-term strategy are needed to achieve victory.
