Evolve will be free to play on PS4 and Xbox One after beta testing on PC

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Remember Evolve? The 4v1 monster-hunting game drew a lot of attention and excitement before its release in February 2015, but went relatively quiet soon thereafter. It's a problem that's not gone unnoticed by developer Turtle Rock, so studio co-founders Chris Ashton and Phil Robb have announced their strategy to bring the "magic" back: starting today, Evolve is shifting to become a free-to-play game.

Evolve's free-to-play model will be implemented on PC first, as a beta test that starts today. Ashton and Robb write on the Turtle Rock forums, "This is going to allow us to hit our new server infrastructure really hard and we need your help testing. Stuff could break, and that’s our hope, because that will give us time to improve things as we go." The beta period will last several months, after which the game will then become free on Xbox One and PS4. 

Those who bought the game at a premium will get "Founder" status, as well as gifts, rewards, and special access as the game changes to this new business model. Any content already owned will also transfer to the free-to-play version, so you won't be starting from scratch.

"We have lived and breathed Evolve for over four years and we feel like we are just getting started. Since launch we realized Evolve has provided people some of their most exciting gaming moments and we want to make more of those for everyone," Ashton and Robb write. So I'm curious: with no money required upfront and the game's oft-criticized DLC getting an overhaul, is Evolve something you'll spend your time (if not money) on? 

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Sam Prell
Sam Prell

Sam is a former News Editor here at GamesRadar. His expert words have appeared on many of the web's well-known gaming sites, including Joystiq, Penny Arcade, Destructoid, and G4 Media, among others. Sam has a serious soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.