<s>
Evolve	B-Application
is	O
a	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
2K	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Announced	O
in	O
January	O
2014	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
February	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
uses	O
an	O
asymmetrical	O
multiplayer	O
structure	O
,	O
where	O
five	O
players	O
—	O
four	O
playing	O
as	O
hunters	O
and	O
one	O
as	O
the	O
monster	O
—	O
battle	O
against	O
each	O
other	O
on	O
an	O
industrialized	O
alien	O
planet	O
called	O
Shear	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
hunters	O
 '	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
eliminate	O
the	O
monster	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
monster	O
's	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
consume	O
wildlife	O
and	O
evolve	B-Application
to	O
make	O
themselves	O
stronger	O
before	O
either	O
eliminating	O
the	O
hunters	O
,	O
or	O
successfully	O
destroying	O
the	O
objective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
 '	O
first	O
major	O
project	O
after	O
the	O
company	O
split	O
from	O
Valve	O
in	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
concept	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
existed	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
their	O
previous	O
game	O
,	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Inspired	O
by	O
hunting	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Cabela	B-Application
's	I-Application
Big	I-Application
Game	I-Application
Hunter	I-Application
and	O
Deer	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
,	O
the	O
idea	O
is	O
to	O
have	O
prey	O
that	O
can	O
strike	O
back	O
at	O
the	O
hunters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
release	O
,	O
Evolve	B-Application
received	O
a	O
largely	O
positive	O
reception	O
and	O
won	O
the	O
Best	O
of	O
Show	O
Awards	O
at	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
2014	O
and	O
Gamescom	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
it	O
received	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
progression	O
system	O
and	O
light	O
narrative	O
,	O
gameplay	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
large	O
amount	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
prepared	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
player	O
base	O
significantly	O
dwindled	O
shortly	O
after	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
had	O
briefly	O
transitioned	O
to	O
become	O
a	O
free-to-play	O
title	O
known	O
as	O
Evolve	B-Application
Stage	I-Application
2	I-Application
before	O
2K	O
Games	O
shut	O
down	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
dedicated	O
servers	O
in	O
September	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
colonisation	O
progressed	O
,	O
humans	O
began	O
to	O
meet	O
resistance	O
from	O
alien	O
life-forms	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
Monsters	O
,	O
that	O
had	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
evolve	B-Application
by	O
consuming	O
local	O
wildlife	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
with	O
a	O
focus	O
on	O
both	O
co-operative	O
,	O
and	O
competitive	O
,	O
multiplayer	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Hunters	O
 '	O
main	O
objective	O
is	O
to	O
track	B-Application
and	O
hunt	O
the	O
Monster	O
in	O
a	O
limited	O
amount	O
of	O
time	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Monster	O
's	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
evolve	B-Application
and	O
make	O
themselves	O
more	O
powerful	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
can	O
track	B-Application
the	O
monster	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
place	O
waypoints	O
on	O
an	O
interactive	O
map	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
it	O
gains	O
enough	O
experience	O
,	O
the	O
Monster	O
can	O
evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
features	O
five	O
different	O
modes	O
:	O
Hunt	O
,	O
Nest	O
,	O
Rescue	O
,	O
Defend	O
and	O
Arena	O
,	O
which	O
have	O
different	O
objectives	O
for	O
both	O
the	O
Hunters	O
and	O
the	O
Monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
provides	O
two	O
different	O
structures	O
to	O
these	O
game	O
modes	O
:	O
Quick	O
Play	O
,	O
which	O
starts	O
a	O
single	O
playthrough	O
match	O
;	O
and	O
Evacuation	O
,	O
which	O
serves	O
as	O
a	O
five-match	O
,	O
multiplayer	O
story	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
also	O
features	O
an	O
Observer	O
Mode	O
,	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
watch	O
a	O
match	O
without	O
playing	O
in	O
the	O
match	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Normally	O
,	O
five	O
players	O
play	O
in	O
a	O
standard	O
round	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
with	O
four	O
Hunters	O
fighting	O
one	O
Monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Playing	O
with	O
fewer	O
than	O
five	O
players	O
,	O
including	O
single	O
player	O
,	O
is	O
possible	O
in	O
all	O
modes	O
due	O
to	O
computer-controlled	B-Application
bots	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
features	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
20	O
different	O
human	O
characters	O
split	O
into	O
four	O
classes	O
,	O
each	O
class	O
containing	O
5	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
does	O
not	O
allow	O
multiple	O
players	O
to	O
play	O
as	O
the	O
same	O
class	O
in	O
a	O
match	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Trapper	O
:	O
The	O
Trapper-class	O
characters	O
can	O
use	O
their	O
gear	O
to	O
track	B-Application
the	O
Monster	O
's	O
movements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Evolves	B-Application
concept	O
artist	O
,	O
those	O
playing	O
as	O
Medics	O
should	O
stay	O
back	O
and	O
avoid	O
direct	O
combat	O
with	O
the	O
Monster	O
,	O
and	O
only	O
use	O
their	O
abilities	O
when	O
necessary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
five	O
Monsters	O
featured	O
in	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
control	O
the	O
Monster	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
features	O
gameplay	O
similar	O
to	O
an	O
action	B-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
unlike	O
the	O
Hunters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Behemoth	O
:	O
The	O
Behemoth	O
is	O
a	O
DLC	B-Protocol
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gorgon	O
:	O
The	O
Gorgon	O
is	O
also	O
a	O
DLC	B-Protocol
monster	O
,	O
The	O
Gorgon	O
has	O
abilities	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
Acid	O
Spit	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Web	O
Snare	O
"	O
which	O
can	O
slow	O
down	O
Hunters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolves	B-Application
creative	O
director	O
,	O
Phil	O
Robb	O
,	O
and	O
lead	O
designer	O
,	O
Chris	O
Ashton	O
,	O
are	O
the	O
co-founders	O
of	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
alongside	O
Michael	O
Booth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
had	O
a	O
heritage	O
of	O
developing	O
competitive	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Valve	O
's	O
Counter-Strike	B-Application
series	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
concept	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
completed	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
before	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
Evolve	B-Application
project	O
was	O
put	O
on	O
hold	O
,	O
as	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
thought	O
that	O
the	O
technology	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
was	O
not	O
advanced	O
enough	O
to	O
handle	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
new	O
company	O
,	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
hoped	O
to	O
make	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
the	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
franchise	O
to	O
create	O
something	O
ambitious	O
and	O
massive	O
before	O
people	O
forgot	O
about	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
eighth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
were	O
released	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
realized	O
they	O
could	O
create	O
almost	O
anything	O
they	O
wanted	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
reviewed	O
some	O
of	O
their	O
previous	O
projects	O
and	O
eventually	O
chose	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
which	O
seemed	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
most	O
"	O
straightforward	O
"	O
concept	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
officially	O
began	O
in	O
early	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
hunting	O
games	O
Cabela	B-Application
's	I-Application
Big	I-Application
Game	I-Application
Hunter	I-Application
and	O
Deer	B-Application
Hunter	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Members	O
of	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
,	O
including	O
Robb	O
and	O
Ashton	O
,	O
thought	O
that	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
these	O
hunting	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
animal-tracking	B-Application
,	O
was	O
seldom	O
incorporated	O
in	O
an	O
action	B-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
they	O
came	O
up	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
concept	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
in	O
which	O
,	O
if	O
players	O
failed	O
at	O
hunting	O
the	O
animals	O
,	O
they	O
could	O
be	O
attacked	O
by	O
their	O
targets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
of	O
typical	O
big	O
game	O
animals	O
such	O
as	O
elephants	O
and	O
lions	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
imagined	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
King	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
"	O
,	O
which	O
changed	O
to	O
an	O
alien	O
monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
also	O
took	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
boss	O
battles	O
,	O
and	O
expanded	O
upon	O
it	O
by	O
using	O
the	O
concept	O
as	O
a	O
key	O
idea	O
when	O
developing	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
envisioned	O
Evolve	B-Application
as	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
version	O
of	O
Predator	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
goal	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
experience	O
that	O
was	O
new	O
to	O
video	O
game	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Evolve	B-Application
carried	O
some	O
game	O
mechanics	O
from	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
,	O
others	O
were	O
discarded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
originally	O
thought	O
that	O
it	O
could	O
be	O
added	O
to	O
the	B-Application
artificial	I-Application
intelligence	I-Application
system	O
of	O
Evolves	B-Application
wildlife	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
later	O
scrapped	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
thought	O
that	O
the	O
core	O
experience	O
offered	O
by	O
Evolve	B-Application
should	O
be	O
tracking	O
and	O
hunting	O
the	O
monster	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
getting	O
attacked	O
by	O
wildlife	O
constantly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developer	O
also	O
intentionally	O
chose	O
not	O
to	O
make	O
Evolve	B-Application
action-packed	O
all	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
introduced	O
segments	O
that	O
would	O
require	O
players	O
to	O
slow	O
down	O
and	O
track	B-Application
the	O
Monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
was	O
deciding	O
on	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
Hunters	O
in	O
a	O
match	O
,	O
they	O
chose	O
four	O
as	O
they	O
believed	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
optimal	O
number	O
in	O
a	O
team	O
,	O
as	O
players	O
would	O
not	O
lose	O
track	B-Application
of	O
the	O
stats	B-Language
and	O
health	O
of	O
other	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
the	O
Monster	O
's	O
perspective	O
,	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
thought	O
that	O
having	O
four	O
Hunters	O
engaging	O
in	O
combat	O
with	O
the	O
Monster	O
would	O
provide	O
a	O
challenge	O
for	O
the	O
Monster	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
could	O
find	O
difficulties	O
in	O
keeping	O
track	B-Application
of	O
the	O
Hunters	O
,	O
and	O
this	O
would	O
make	O
a	O
match	O
feel	O
more	O
balanced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Turtle	O
Rock	O
considered	O
this	O
a	O
way	O
to	O
effectively	O
extend	O
Evolves	B-Application
replayability	O
and	O
would	O
add	O
more	O
variety	O
to	O
the	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
were	O
originally	O
four	O
Hunter	O
characters	O
in	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
but	O
after	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
experimented	O
with	O
the	O
free-to-play	O
model	O
,	O
the	O
list	O
of	O
characters	O
was	O
expanded	O
to	O
16	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
titular	O
"	O
Evolve	B-Application
"	O
game	O
mechanic	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
"	O
bomb	O
planting	O
"	O
mode	O
from	O
the	O
Counter-Strike	B-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Monsters	O
started	O
out	O
as	O
a	O
relatively	O
weak	O
creature	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
defeated	O
easily	O
,	O
but	O
becomes	O
stronger	O
and	O
gains	O
more	O
skills	O
as	O
it	O
evolves	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
playtesters	O
complained	O
about	O
the	O
game	O
mechanic	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
thought	O
that	O
this	O
would	O
bring	O
an	O
unfair	O
disadvantage	O
to	O
the	O
Hunters	O
,	O
since	O
they	O
do	O
not	O
"	O
evolve	B-Application
"	O
like	O
the	O
Monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
other	O
hand	O
,	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
implemented	O
the	O
first-person	O
gameplay	O
for	O
the	O
Hunters	O
when	O
Evolves	B-Application
development	O
started	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolves	B-Application
environments	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
Earth	O
's	O
as	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
wanted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
world	O
that	O
felt	O
believable	O
for	O
players	O
and	O
had	O
regions	O
that	O
made	O
geological	O
sense	O
after	O
an	O
early	O
concept	O
design	O
was	O
found	O
to	O
be	O
too	O
extreme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
design	O
team	O
wanted	O
Evolve	B-Application
to	O
be	O
set	O
in	O
lush	O
forests	O
so	O
that	O
Hunters	O
and	O
Monsters	O
could	O
hide	O
from	O
each	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
design	O
team	O
tried	O
using	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
game	I-Application
engine	I-Application
to	O
create	O
a	O
forest	O
landscape	O
but	O
they	O
ultimately	O
failed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
design	O
team	O
then	O
researched	O
Crytek	O
's	O
CryEngine	B-Application
,	O
which	O
powers	O
games	O
like	O
Far	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
and	O
Crysis	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
felt	O
that	O
Far	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
and	O
Crysis	B-Application
set	O
new	O
standards	O
for	O
in-game	O
environments	O
,	O
they	O
decided	O
to	O
utilize	O
CryEngine	B-Application
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolves	B-Application
maps	O
were	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
dark	O
and	O
mysterious	O
,	O
so	O
that	O
the	O
various	O
characters	O
can	O
hide	O
from	O
each	O
other	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
presenting	O
a	O
sense	O
of	O
surprise	O
when	O
players	O
are	O
ambushed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Evolve	B-Application
is	O
multiplayer-focused	O
,	O
the	O
design	O
team	O
put	O
less	O
time	O
and	O
focus	O
into	O
developing	O
Evolves	B-Application
narrative	O
and	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
does	O
not	O
adapt	O
traditional	O
storytelling	O
methods	O
,	O
nor	O
use	O
a	O
campaign	B-Application
mode	I-Application
,	O
instead	O
,	O
players	O
learn	O
about	O
the	O
Hunters	O
 '	O
backstory	O
and	O
the	O
fictional	O
world	O
of	O
Shear	O
by	O
slowly	O
progressing	O
through	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
features	O
a	O
Cthulhu-inspired	O
artstyle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
Goliath	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
a	O
lobster	O
,	O
but	O
changed	O
to	O
"	O
a	O
hybrid	O
between	O
King	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
and	O
Godzilla	B-Device
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Evolves	B-Application
producer	O
,	O
Robb	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
second	O
monster	O
,	O
Kraken	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
wanted	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
electricity-based	O
creature	O
and	O
looked	O
at	O
marine	O
creatures	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
eels	B-Application
,	O
for	O
inspiration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
had	O
designed	O
more	O
than	O
three	O
monsters	O
,	O
but	O
many	O
of	O
them	O
were	O
dropped	O
due	O
to	O
technical	O
issues	O
with	O
Evolves	B-Application
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
system	O
,	O
abilities	O
that	O
were	O
deemed	O
to	O
be	O
too	O
powerful	O
,	O
and	O
animation	O
problems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolves	B-Application
soundtrack	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Jason	O
Graves	O
and	O
Lustmord	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Graves	O
,	O
Evolves	B-Application
soundtrack	O
has	O
"	O
evolved	O
"	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
development	O
progressed	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
shifted	O
to	O
become	O
more	O
electronic	O
and	O
synth-based	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
adapts	O
an	O
asymmetrical	O
multiplayer	O
structure	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
concept	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
industry	O
during	O
its	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
,	O
when	O
the	O
publishers	O
heard	O
that	O
the	O
original	O
creators	O
of	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
were	O
making	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
interested	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Even	O
though	O
the	O
representatives	O
from	O
these	O
publishers	O
were	O
excited	O
about	O
their	O
pitch	O
after	O
they	O
knew	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
an	O
extension	O
to	O
the	O
Tank	O
mode	O
in	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
,	O
they	O
questioned	O
the	O
ability	O
of	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
making	O
a	O
triple-A	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
uncertain	O
whether	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
project	O
they	O
should	O
invest	O
in	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
eventually	O
partnered	O
with	O
THQ	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
which	O
would	O
serve	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
publisher	O
and	O
help	O
with	O
funding	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Robb	O
,	O
they	O
had	O
to	O
show	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
their	O
iPad	B-Device
,	O
as	O
they	O
forgot	O
to	O
bring	O
the	O
battery	O
for	O
their	O
laptop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
listed	O
alongside	O
other	O
unannounced	O
titles	O
from	O
Relic	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
Vigil	B-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
and	O
THQ	O
Studios	O
Montreal	O
in	O
court	O
documents	O
filed	O
by	O
THQ	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
8	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
and	O
2K	O
announced	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
had	O
been	O
declared	O
gold	O
,	O
indicating	O
it	O
was	O
being	O
prepared	O
for	O
duplication	O
and	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
leaked	O
in	O
THQ	O
's	O
court	O
document	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
expected	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
on	O
their	O
2015	O
fiscal	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
globally	O
on	O
October	O
21	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
2K	O
later	O
decided	O
to	O
extend	O
Evolves	B-Application
development	O
time	O
frame	O
,	O
so	O
as	O
to	O
allow	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
to	O
further	O
polish	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
to	O
"	O
fully	O
realize	O
the	O
vision	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
delayed	O
to	O
February	O
10	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
alpha	O
version	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
called	O
the	O
'	O
Big	O
Alpha	O
 '	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
October	O
31	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
The	O
alpha	O
version	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
originally	O
set	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
a	O
day	O
later	O
on	O
October	O
31	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
delayed	O
to	O
November	O
3	O
,	O
2014	O
due	O
to	O
technical	O
issues	O
related	O
to	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
's	O
firmware	O
update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Open	O
beta	O
trials	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
were	O
held	O
January	O
14	O
–	O
19	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
limited	O
test	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PC	B-Device
was	O
held	O
January	O
16	O
–	O
19	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
standard	O
edition	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
purchase	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Season	O
Pass	O
,	O
Deluxe	O
Edition	O
and	O
PC	B-Device
Monster	O
Race	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Season	O
Pass	O
features	O
four	O
additional	O
Hunters	O
and	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
"	O
magma	O
"	O
Monster	O
skins	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	B-Device
Monster	O
Race	O
Edition	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
an	O
exclusive	O
for	O
PC	B-Device
players	O
,	O
features	O
the	O
content	O
of	O
the	O
Deluxe	O
Edition	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
fifth	O
Monster	O
and	O
two	O
additional	O
Hunters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Evolves	B-Application
release	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
season	O
pass	O
,	O
called	O
Evolve	B-Application
Hunting	O
Pass	O
2	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
23	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
new	O
skins	B-Application
,	O
Hunters	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
Monster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
21	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
a	O
mobile	O
game	O
titled	O
Evolve	B-Application
:	O
Hunter	O
Quest	O
appeared	O
briefly	O
on	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
App	I-Application
Store	I-Application
and	O
was	O
later	O
removed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
by	O
2K	O
on	O
January	O
29	O
,	O
2015	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
and	O
Fire	B-Application
OS	I-Application
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
a	O
free-to-play	O
tile-matching	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
companion	O
app	O
to	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Evolve	B-Application
:	O
Hunter	O
Quest	O
,	O
players	O
match	B-Application
three	I-Application
tokens	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
colour	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
unleash	O
attacks	O
on	O
enemies	O
,	O
fill	O
up	O
energy	O
bars	O
to	O
activate	O
special	O
Hunter	O
abilities	O
and	O
earn	O
mastery	O
points	O
to	O
level	O
up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mastery	O
points	O
earned	O
in-app	O
can	O
then	O
be	O
applied	O
to	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
Evolve	B-Application
game	O
on	O
any	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
launched	O
with	O
several	O
merchandise	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Handled	O
by	O
Merchandise	O
Monkey	O
,	O
the	O
Evolves	B-Application
merchandise	O
collection	O
includes	O
T-shirts	O
and	O
different	O
figurines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Funko	O
also	O
made	O
several	O
toys	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
including	O
tall	O
figurines	O
of	O
Markov	O
,	O
Val	O
,	O
Hank	O
,	O
Maggie	O
and	O
Goliath	O
,	O
each	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
characters	O
available	O
to	O
a	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
,	O
Ashton	O
claimed	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
would	O
have	O
the	O
"	O
best	O
support	O
for	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
ever	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packages	O
are	O
not	O
covered	O
by	O
Evolves	B-Application
Season	O
Pass	O
On	O
November	O
21	O
,	O
2014	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
co-founder	O
Phil	O
Robb	O
confirmed	O
with	O
IGN	O
that	O
all	O
DLC	B-Protocol
maps	O
will	O
be	O
free	O
of	O
charge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Robb	O
stated	O
the	O
reason	O
for	O
this	O
is	O
"	O
to	O
allow	O
people	O
who	O
do	O
n't	O
have	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
to	O
still	O
play	O
against	O
those	O
who	O
do	O
,	O
the	O
only	O
difference	O
is	O
that	O
they	O
ca	O
n't	O
play	O
as	O
those	O
hunters	O
or	O
monsters	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
claiming	O
that	O
all	O
DLC	B-Protocol
maps	O
would	O
be	O
free	O
to	O
all	O
players	O
,	O
the	O
high	O
number	O
of	O
paid	O
DLCs	B-Protocol
has	O
attracted	O
criticism	O
from	O
fans	O
who	O
feel	O
that	O
it	O
constitutes	O
a	O
large	O
amount	O
of	O
content	O
being	O
deliberately	O
withheld	O
to	O
be	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
large	O
number	O
of	O
players	O
who	O
purchased	O
the	O
game	O
wrote	O
negative	O
reviews	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
complaining	O
about	O
the	O
excessive	O
amount	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
planned	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
general	O
direction	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
an	O
overall	O
userscore	O
of	O
"	O
Overwhelmingly	O
Negative	O
"	O
on	O
the	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Turtle	O
Rock	O
Studios	O
countered	O
this	O
by	O
claiming	O
that	O
as	O
much	O
content	O
as	O
possible	O
was	O
packaged	O
with	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
DLC	B-Protocol
only	O
including	O
content	O
created	O
after	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Evolves	B-Application
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
release	O
,	O
Evolve	B-Application
launched	O
with	O
44	O
different	O
paid-DLC	O
skin	O
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2K	O
expressed	O
similar	O
enthusiasm	O
,	O
and	O
added	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
allocate	O
resources	O
into	O
developing	O
eSports-centric	O
features	O
to	O
Evolve	B-Application
if	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
expressed	O
demands	O
for	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Pro-Am	O
Tournament	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
took	O
place	O
on	O
March	O
6	O
,	O
2015	O
during	O
PAX	O
East	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
tournament	O
,	O
they	O
revealed	O
that	O
the	O
eSport	O
future	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
is	O
determined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
July	O
6	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
transitioning	O
to	O
become	O
a	O
free-to-play	O
game	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
Evolve	B-Application
:	I-Application
Stage	I-Application
2	I-Application
due	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
controversy	O
and	O
mixed	O
critical	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
alpha	O
version	O
of	O
Stage	O
2	O
would	O
begin	O
on	O
July	O
7	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
for	O
PC	B-Device
,	O
and	O
will	O
be	O
followed	O
by	O
a	O
beta	O
in	O
August	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2016	O
,	O
Turtle	O
Rock	O
announced	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
end	O
support	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
and	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
:	I-Application
Stage	I-Application
2	I-Application
would	O
not	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
consoles	O
,	O
but	O
servers	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
will	O
remain	O
online	O
for	O
‘	O
foreseeable	O
future’	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
3	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
dedicated	O
servers	O
were	O
shut	O
down	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
game	O
remains	O
playable	O
with	O
peer-to-peer	O
connection	O
using	O
Legacy	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
July	O
2022	O
,	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
servers	O
for	O
Evolve	B-Application
:	I-Application
Stage	I-Application
2	I-Application
became	O
reenabled	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
in	O
October	O
2022	O
2K	O
games	O
by	O
reenabling	O
the	O
daily	O
log-in	O
bonus	O
,	O
and	O
distributing	O
free	O
Steam	B-Application
Keys	O
to	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
Evolve	B-Application
:	O
Reunited	O
Discord	O
server	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
received	O
a	O
largely	O
positive	O
reception	O
from	O
critics	O
upon	O
its	O
initial	O
announcement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
six	O
different	O
awards	O
in	O
the	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
,	O
namely	O
Best	O
of	O
Show	O
,	O
Best	O
Original	O
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Console	O
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
PC	B-Device
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Action	B-Application
Game	I-Application
and	O
Best	O
Online	O
Multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
won	O
four	O
of	O
them	O
,	O
and	O
lost	O
the	O
Best	O
Original	O
Game	O
Awards	O
to	O
No	B-Application
Man	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
and	O
Best	O
PC	B-Device
Game	O
to	O
Tom	B-Application
Clancy	I-Application
's	I-Application
Rainbow	I-Application
Six	I-Application
:	I-Application
Siege	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
also	O
named	O
the	O
Best	O
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Console	O
Game	O
Microsoft	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
Best	O
PC	B-Device
Game	O
and	O
Best	O
Online	O
Multiplayer	O
Game	O
at	O
Gamescom	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Publisher	O
2K	O
Games	O
stated	O
that	O
these	O
awards	O
indicated	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
could	O
become	O
a	O
defining	O
title	O
for	O
both	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
controversy	O
caused	O
backlash	O
from	O
customers	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
criticized	O
for	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
framework	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
received	O
mostly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aggregating	O
review	O
website	O
Metacritic	O
gave	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
76/100	O
based	O
on	O
46	O
reviews	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	O
version	O
77/100	O
based	O
on	O
38	O
reviews	O
,	O
and	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
version	O
74/100	O
based	O
on	O
31	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
backlash	O
from	O
users	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
excessive	O
amount	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
sold	O
on	O
day	O
one	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
being	O
overpriced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evan	O
Lahti	O
,	O
from	O
PC	B-Device
Gamer	O
,	O
commended	O
the	O
structure	O
and	O
considered	O
it	O
the	O
most	O
compressed	O
multiplayer	O
experience	O
since	O
2014	O
's	O
Titanfall	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Anthony	O
LaBella	O
of	O
Game	O
Revolution	O
praised	O
the	O
asymmetrical	O
idea	O
and	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
distinct	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
between	O
monsters	O
and	O
hunters	O
successfully	O
introduce	O
Evolve	B-Application
to	O
a	O
broad	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jeff	O
Marchiafava	O
,	O
from	O
Game	O
Informer	O
,	O
also	O
felt	O
the	O
structure	O
to	O
be	O
limited	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
,	O
even	O
with	O
all	O
the	O
modes	O
,	O
had	O
failed	O
to	O
offer	O
enough	O
variety	O
and	O
challenges	O
to	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nic	O
Rowan	O
,	O
from	O
Destructoid	O
,	O
thought	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
had	O
presented	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
moments	O
he	O
had	O
had	O
in	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
these	O
moments	O
are	O
too	O
far	O
between	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Monster	O
's	O
gameplay	O
was	O
praised	O
by	O
Ingenito	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
thought	O
it	O
tasked	O
players	O
to	O
use	O
skills	O
and	O
patience	O
while	O
playing	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
has	O
provided	O
satisfying	O
rewards	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
that	O
successfully	O
outsmarts	O
the	O
Hunters	O
,	O
a	O
sentiment	O
which	O
was	O
echoed	O
by	O
Strom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
he	O
noted	O
that	O
several	O
Monsters	O
felt	O
overpowered	O
,	O
which	O
made	O
Evolve	B-Application
feel	O
unbalanced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Meikleham	O
from	O
GamesRadar	O
praised	O
Evolves	B-Application
shooting	O
mechanic	O
,	O
but	O
complained	O
that	O
the	O
action	O
presented	O
on-screen	O
can	O
become	O
too	O
chaotic	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
handle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Marchiafava	O
thought	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
had	O
successfully	O
delivered	O
a	O
compelling	O
experience	O
while	O
playing	O
with	O
other	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meikleham	O
thought	O
that	O
playing	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
other	O
players	O
can	O
be	O
an	O
exhilarating	O
experience	O
,	O
but	O
only	O
when	O
players	O
communicate	O
with	O
each	O
other	O
using	O
microphones	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rowan	O
thought	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
could	O
only	O
deliver	O
an	O
enjoyable	O
experience	O
when	O
all	O
players	O
play	O
cooperatively	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
overall	O
experience	O
would	O
crumble	O
if	O
one	O
of	O
these	O
players	O
failed	O
to	O
do	O
so	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lahti	O
liked	O
Evolves	B-Application
resources	O
management	O
,	O
singling	O
out	O
the	O
need	O
for	O
the	O
Hunters	O
to	O
manage	O
and	O
conserve	O
the	O
energy	O
for	O
their	O
jetpacks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
called	O
this	O
the	O
"	O
true	O
beauty	O
"	O
of	O
Evolve	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Marchiafava	O
compared	O
the	O
narrative	O
unfavorably	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Left	B-Application
4	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
,	O
and	O
thought	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
not	O
emergent	O
enough	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolves	B-Application
map-design	O
received	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
added	O
that	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
variety	O
had	O
significantly	O
lowered	O
Evolves	B-Application
replayability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
debuted	O
in	O
No	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evolve	B-Application
was	O
the	O
second	O
best	O
selling	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
in	O
February	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
NPD	O
Group	O
,	O
only	O
behind	O
the	O
handheld	O
game	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Majora	I-Application
's	I-Application
Mask	I-Application
3D	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
average	O
player	O
count	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
declined	O
significantly	O
since	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
player	O
count	O
increased	O
15,930	O
%	O
and	O
was	O
listed	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
Steam	B-Application
's	O
most-played	O
games	O
after	O
its	O
transition	O
to	O
a	O
free-to-play	O
model	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Financial	O
analyst	O
Doug	O
Creutz	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
Cowen	O
Group	O
,	O
estimated	O
only	O
300,000	O
physical	O
copies	O
were	O
sold	O
in	O
Evolves	B-Application
launch	O
month	O
,	O
and	O
by	O
its	O
current	O
sales	O
rate	O
,	O
a	O
well-below	O
average	O
figure	O
for	O
the	O
triple-A	O
gaming	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creutz	O
stated	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
may	O
be	O
"	O
too	O
niche	O
to	O
reach	O
a	O
wide	O
audience	O
"	O
,	O
adding	O
that	O
the	O
negative	O
reception	O
to	O
its	O
DLC	B-Protocol
plan	O
has	O
hindered	O
its	O
success	O
considerably	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
such	O
estimations	O
,	O
Karl	O
Slatoff	O
,	O
President	O
of	O
Take-Two	O
Interactive	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
Evolve	B-Application
has	O
achieved	O
an	O
“	O
incredibly	O
successful	O
"	O
launch	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
company	O
was	O
very	O
satisfied	O
with	O
the	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Take-Two	O
CEO	O
Strauss	O
Zelnick	O
considered	O
the	O
property	O
one	O
of	O
their	O
"	O
permanent	O
"	O
franchises	O
,	O
joining	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
,	O
BioShock	B-Application
and	O
Red	O
Dead	O
.	O
</s>
