Evolve is going free-to-play

Multiplayer monster hunter Evolve is going free to play, according to developer Turtle Rock.

From July 7, PC players will be able to enjoy the title for free with console versions to follow in due course. Anyone who purchased the game will be rewarded with Founder status and will keep all purchased add-on content as will receive “gifts, rewards, and special access” for as long as the shooter is in active development.

In an open letter to the community, Turtle Rock announced that the title will be going free-to-play and also addressed the vigorous overhaul that it's working on. It said that the hunter class is being worked on to become less reliant on having experienced trappers and medics, the maps and UI are to be improved, and more customisation options are to be added, among other things.

The developer acknowledged that there were positive and negative reviews and reactions, while mentioning that the reaction to its DLC plans "washed away people's enthusiasm, dragging us further and further from that first magical pick-up-and-play experience." It added that the team wants the magic back.

The PC beta for Evolve will be available today. Turtle Rock is yet to unveil what its plans are for console.

This free-to-play announcement comes ahead of the expiration of a countdown timer on the Turtle Rock website. Perhaps that is when the beta will go live or perhaps the developer has another surprise in store.