What did Evolve do wrong?
Evolve, a cooperative/competitive survival shooter developed by Turtle Rock Studios, was released in 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. While the game showed promise, it was marred by several mistakes that ultimately led to its downfall. In this article, we’ll explore some of the key mistakes that contributed to Evolve’s problems.
Lack of Understanding of Core Gameplay Loop
One of the major issues with Evolve was that the game’s design team didn’t fully grasp the core gameplay loop of a multiplayer shooter. In a typical multiplayer game, the objective is to shoot the other team’s players to eliminate them. But Evolve introduced a unique twist: players could become a monster, and as the monster, they needed to hunt down and eat the other players. While this concept sounded exciting on paper, it didn’t quite translate to a enjoyable gaming experience.
Game Balance Issues
Another issue that plagued Evolve was its game balance. The game’s designers seemed to prioritize the monster’s strength over the hunters’, which made it nearly impossible for hunters to win. Hunters would often get destroyed within minutes of the match, and the game would simply reset, only to happen again. This lack of balance led to frustration among players and ultimately drove away a significant portion of the community.
Poor Online Matchmaking
Evolve’s online matchmaking system was also a major issue. The game would often have difficulty finding a match, leaving players stuck in menus for extended periods. This made it difficult for players to find a game to play, and when they did, it was often a frustrating experience.
Inconsistent Update Schedule
Turtle Rock Studios failed to maintain a consistent update schedule for Evolve, which led to a decline in player interest. Without regular updates and new content, players became bored with the game and lost motivation to continue playing.
Misguided Monetization Model
Evolve introduced a monetization model where players could buy skins for their characters. While this seemed like a harmless move, it actually created resentment among players who felt the game was being nickel-and-dimed. The addition of microtransactions also further split the community, leading to a decrease in player engagement.
Lack of Post-Launch Support
After Evolve launched, Turtle Rock Studios provided minimal post-launch support, including few updates and bug fixes. This lack of attention to the game further frustrated players and led to a decline in player interest.
Key Takeaways
- Lack of understanding of core gameplay loop: Evolve’s game designers didn’t fully comprehend the core gameplay loop, leading to an unbalanced game that was frustrating for players.
- Game balance issues: The game favored the monster over the hunters, making it difficult for players to win.
- Poor online matchmaking: Evolve’s online matchmaking system was often unreliable, leading to long wait times and frustration among players.
- Inconsistent update schedule: The lack of consistent updates and new content led to a decline in player interest.
- Misguided monetization model: The introduction of microtransactions created resentment among players and further split the community.
- Lack of post-launch support: Minimal post-launch support further frustrated players and led to a decline in player interest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Evolve suffered from a combination of factors that ultimately led to its decline. By understanding what went wrong, game developers can learn valuable lessons on how to avoid similar mistakes in the future. By recognizing the importance of core gameplay loop, game balance, online matchmaking, updates, monetization, and post-launch support, game developers can create a more enjoyable and engaging gaming experience for players.