‘Evolve’ DLC Backlash Forces Developer To Respond

Turtle Rock Studios and 2K Games announced the Evolve DLC plans two days ago, and the backlash from the gaming community was harsh. Not only did PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC gamers find the plans to be convoluted and expensive, they also accused the developer of intentionally holding back characters like the Behemoth monster from the full version of the game. Co-founder Phil Robb responded directly to those complaints.

Evolve will ship with three monsters and 12 hunters spread out among the game’s four classes. These will be supported via four different game modes for single-player and multiplayer across 12 different maps. Turtle Rock has already confirmed that all future maps for the game will be free to avoid splitting the player base. The ability to play as additional characters and monsters will not be free, however.

Today we announced the options you have for ordering #EvolveGame Digitally. Get the full breakdown right here: http://t.co/NsdZPLxgWc

— Evolve (@EvolveGame) January 13, 2015

Hunters will be sold for $7.49 individually or $24.99 as part the Hunting Season Pass. Meanwhile, the Behemoth will be $14.99 for those that don’t pre-purchase the game digitally from the Xbox One Store.

The immediate reaction from gamers interested in Evolve was revulsion at the DLC plans. Complaints flood Reddit, NeoGAF, and the game’s forums that the prices for the individual hunters was too high, the content too shallow, and that 2K Games must have gotten to Turtle Rock and forced them to hold content back for DLC. The Turtle Rock co-founder defended the DLC plans on the Turtle Rock forums by pointing out what it takes to develop and release a game and the accompanying DLC.

“A lot of folks seem to be under the impression that we’ve got all this content done and we shave off a hunk to sell separately,” Robb wrote in response to complaints. “That just isn’t the case. When ‘Evolve’ hits the shelves, none of the DLC will be done. Behemoth won’t be done. None of the planned DLC hunters or monsters will be done. The only exception to this might be some skins that were working on now while we wait for all the final stages of packaging, manufacturing etc. to finish.”

He continued, “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.”

Robb went on to point out that the studio came up with designs for more monsters and hunters than it had the time or money to create. He’d rather offer those up as DLC than throwing them out.

“Means more content for the people who love the game and want more. It also means all those ideas get to see the light of day. Oh yeah, and it means more work for TRS and we can keep paying our bills and making cool stuff!” he added.

While the Evolve DLC hunters and monsters will only be playable by those that paid for them, everyone will have to opportunity to play alongside or against them. Turtle Rock does not want to split the community between those that pay extra and those that don’t.

“Hell, you can even set the DLC characters and monsters up as opponents in solo games.” Robb pointed out.

Does this make you feel better about the Evolve DLC plans? Sound off in the comments below.

[Images via Evolve]