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Dish is bringing Netflix to more hotel rooms
Dish Network began offering hotel entertainment in 2017 with an Android TV-powered box that let guests stream and watch live television in the comfort of their own hotel room. YouTube and Sling TV were supported via built-in Chromecast, but Netflix was noticeably missing. Now Dish has Netflix, and will integrate the streaming content into its Evolve system in the coming months.
Gear VR was the 'Evolve' and 'Left 4 Dead' studio's savior
"Chaotic." That's how Turtle Rock Studios president Steve Goldstein described the 14 months between its last AAA game, Evolve, being effectively killed and now. The four-hunter-versus-one-gigantic-monster online multiplayer game struggled to retain players after it was released for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in early 2015. Last June, Evolve transitioned from a $60 game to a free-to-play one. As a result, it went from roughly 100 players per month to more than 15,000. You'd think that would have been enough to keep the lights on, but you'd be wrong. Four months later, publisher 2K Games pulled the plug, saying that while the servers would remain online for the foreseeable future, the game wouldn't be getting any more updates. "It was absolutely looking bleak, but sadly that's not unusual in our space," Goldstein said. "Everyone who works here knows that they are taking a risk, right? That's not a problem unique to us." If all you've paid attention to are headlines on gaming and tech news sites, you'd think that Turtle Rock has been on the ropes ever since. But in the last year or so, thanks to Oculus' aggressive investments in virtual reality games and other experiences, Turtle Rock has been quietly building a mobile VR safety net in case its next $100 million project goes the way of Evolve.
Dish knows hotel TV sucks and it wants to help
Checking into a hotel can be like moving back in time, at least when it comes to media. We're all used to using our own devices to watch television and movies, stream music and play games, but many hotels still cling to their cable-style in-room TV systems that we basically bypass to use our own entertainment. Satellite internet and television provider Dish wants to change all that with a new system for hotels called Evolve. It's a 4K-capable box powered by Android TV that sits behind your room's monitor that you can stream to as well as watch live TV in HD.
'Evolve' is dying after its free-to-play transition failed
Evolve managed to bump its online player count from 300 to a million by going free-to-play, but developer Turtle Rock says it can no longer support the shooter. "We were hungry for more but unfortunately today is the last day that Turtle Rock Studios can work on Evolve," studio Co-Founder Chris Ashton wrote. In a statement, publisher 2K Games said that it will take over day-to-day operation and that the servers will stay online "for the foreseeable future." There will be no more updates, however.
'Evolve' continues its rebirth with new co-op mode
The asymmetric shooter Evolve is experiencing a renaissance. Reacting to dwindling player number, developer Turtle Rock made Evolve free to play, rebalanced the gameplay and promised more additions down the line. The changes, at least so far, have been a success, and now the developer is introducing a new mode that scraps the core 4-vs-1 dynamic in favor of a more traditional co-op experience. Called "The Deepest Dark," the mode sits alongside the other play options, rather than replacing them.
One month after going free, 'Evolve' averages 15,000 players
Pick a random moment in June and you'd likely find about 100 people playing Turtle Rock Studios' Evolve on Steam. That's not a lot of players in general, but this number is especially sad for a game billed as an online multiplayer extravaganza. One and a half years after launch, it looked like Evolve was dying. And then, in July, Evolve's active player base shot up to an average of 15,400 at any given time on Steam, according to current lead designer Brandon Yanez. This didn't happen by accident: Developers at Turtle Rock knew they had to take drastic action to save Evolve and so, on July 7th, they did. They made the game free on PC.
'Evolve' added over a million players by going free-to-play
It looks like that last ditch effort to save Evolve actually worked. In under a week, developer Turtle Rock Studios says that its monstrous 4-versus-1 multiplayer game has picked up over a million new players on PC. Regardless of how many will actually stick around, that's a much higher number of players than the game saw just a few weeks ago. Peak concurrent users in June totaled 234, according to Game Informer.
'Evolve' now free-to-play as creators try to save the game
Evolve got a lot of things right. But the 2015 4-vs-1 first-person shooter also got a few things wrong. It had a tremendous amount of buzz thanks to the aforementioned asymmetric multiplayer aspect, but a lack of depth -- and the restrictions that asymmetry brings -- led to mixed reviews and middling sales. Following what developer Turtle Rock Studios calls a "DLC shit-storm," its popularity dropped further, and it soon had an average player count of less than 500. 18 months after launch, Evolve's developers are making some major changes to try and rescue the game, the biggest of which is making it free-to-play on PC.
Play 'Evolve' free this weekend on Xbox One and PC
Wondering what to do with your three day weekend? Turtle Rock Studios is hoping you'll (re)visit its co-op shooter Evolve, courtesy of a few days of free access on Xbox One and PC. Even if you already own it, it may be time to knock the dust off because besides the flood of players, it's unlocking all the DLC for you to try, and just permanently unlocked a new monster, the Meteor Goliath. Thanks to its 4-on-1, primarily multiplayer setup, having a strong base of online players is key, and this is one way to try and refresh the ranks. The free preview is already under way, wrapping up on the 7th, at 11:59PM PT on Xbox One, and at 10AM PT on PC.
'Evolve' simplifies the hunt with free deathmatch arena mode
Evolve isn't a typical multiplayer shooter. The game pits four hunters against a quickly mutating monster, with the first task usually being to find and trap the player-controlled goliath. The experience can be a little bewildering for newcomers, so developer Turtle Rock Studios is throwing in a free Arena Mode that keeps everything simple. In a best-of-three match, the hunters and monster are dropped in a small, pre-determined dome with only one goal; take down your opponent(s). The monster starts at stage two with 50 percent armour, reducing the need to devour local wildlife, and when a hunter dies they're out until the next round. It's a bare-bones take on the Evolve formula, stripping away some of what makes the game unique. Still, if you're interested in shorter rounds where you can easily hone your combat skills, Arena Mode could be a welcome change on planet Shear.
Recommended Reading: The life and death and life of Google Glass
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Sorry, but Google Glass isn't Anywhere Close to Dead Cade Metz, Wired Reports claim Google Glass is on its last leg after the folks in Mountain View shuttered the Explorer program last month. Not so fast. The wearable still has a truckload of uses, and making it an enterprise device could be the right move.
JXE Streams: Life finds a way in 'Evolve'
Steps up to mic. Cues "Muzzle" by Smashing Pumpkins. My name is Anthony John Agnello, onetime Joystiq community manager, host of Joystiq Streams and known scallywag. I've been knighted in three countries, thrown out of the Madame Tussauds wax museum five times (but only once for a good reason) and I've been writing about video games professionally for eight years. My work's appeared in The Onion's The AV Club, The Gameological Society, Edge, Digital Trends, Fast Company and many more.
Evolve's latest footage hunts alone
Evolve centers around a team of hunters stalking giant, ill-tempered prey, but developer Turtle Rock has also included options for those who prefer to play the lone wolf, as demonstrated in this latest look at the upcoming shooter's gameplay. [Image: 2K Games]
Joystiq Weekly: New 3DS XL, The Talos Principle review, no more review scores and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. This was a busy week, but our decision to drop numerical review scores is probably what will have the longest-lasting effect on Joystiq. While not everyone has expressed support of the decision, we immensely appreciate the effort and thought many have put into discussing the topic with us. We hope our transition into using "In Other Words" text summaries and the new Joystiq Excellence Award will be more effective at conveying our stances and better at helping you find games that you'd actually enjoy. Even if you're indifferent about the discussion of reviews though, plenty happened this week beyond our shift in examining games. The New 3DS XL will reach us next month, Xbox One consoles slipped back to their $350 holiday price, The Talos Principle surprised us with its depth, and 3D After Burner 2 transcended the fabled "arcade-perfect" status of arcade ports. All those stories and more are waiting for you after the break!
Joystiq Streams: Evolve rematch pits Joystiq against Team Eggs
The last time Joystiq played Evolve, it didn't go very well. We had plenty of fun hunting each other down, leveling up the respective hunter classes, and trying to be a good and proper monster. It's just that we weren't very good. Eggs defeated us. Eggs! Defeat at the hands of a gradually growing beast is one thing, but crumbling in the face of unborn beasts is too ignoble a fate for Joystiq. So we're getting back in there. Those eggs won't even know what hit them. Starting at 4:00PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch, we'll be streaming Evolve. Anyone curious to see how the multiple character classes change as you level up early in the game should swing by for a detailed look. Anyone that rooted for the eggs last time: Place your bets. Joystiq.com/Twitch broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00PM EST, but we stream on the regular at other times so make sure to follow us on Twitch. [Images: 2K Games]
Fourth Evolve monster granted with pre-orders or separate purchase
Turtle Rock Studios' four-versus-one multiplayer shooter Evolve will receive a number of add-ons following the game's launch in February. For $25, the game's Hunting Season Pass will introduce four new playable hunters this spring, one for each class in the game. Each hunter will also be available for purchase for $7.49 each. Season pass holders will also get exclusive access to three monster skins at Evolve's launch: Magma Goliath, Magma Kraken and Magma Wraith. Turtle Rock Studios also revealed the Behemoth, a fourth playable "tank of a monster" that transforms into a rolling boulder, available this spring for $15. The Behemoth will also be part of the Monster Expansion Pack, a bonus for those that pre-order or pre-purchase Evolve. That expansion pack itself features a free Savage Goliath skin at the game's launch. Additionally, the developer revealed two special edition versions of the game today, each available for pre-purchase. Evolve's Digital Deluxe Edition features the monster-slaying game, its season pass and the Monster Expansion Pack for $80, available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. PC players get a special collector's edition to themselves as well: Evolve's $100 PC Monster Race Edition features the same goodies as the Digital Deluxe Edition as well as a fifth monster, two hunters and four monster skins that will be exclusive to PC Monster Race Edition players for 30 days. Evolve will launch on February 10 and is available to pre-download starting today on Xbox One. While you can find a new trailer for the game to showcase the Behemoth after the break, stay tuned to Joystiq Streams at 4:00 p.m. ET today for a livestream of Evolve in action. [Image: 2K Games]
Evolve PC specs sniffed out
When it comes to Evolve's newly-revealed PC specs, it's not quite "survival of the fittest." You do need a fairly decent rig to be part of the 4v1 fun, but the CryEngine shooter accommodates 4GB of system RAM and 1GB of graphical power at a minimum. You can check out the full minimum and recommended requirements below the break, but there are a couple of extra infobits worth noting. First, 2K says Evolve supports 4K resolutions "right now," so you should be able to hunt down oodles of definition when the PC closed tests start anew on January 16. However, 2K adds SLI (Scalable Link Interface) isn't supported "out of the box." The publisher says teams are working to get the multi-GPU turbocharge working with the game ASAP. It's not long now until the hunt begins in full for PS4, Xbox One and PC on February 10. It's even less long until Evolve's Xbox One open beta, which is due to run across January 15-19. PS4 owners can also test the game out starting January 17, as long as they have a Big Alpha invite and PS Plus subscription.
Pre-purchase Evolve on Xbox One, unlock characters early
Xbox Live Gold users can hunt some unorthodox, fire-breathing game once Evolve's open beta launches later this week. The beta will offer two monster types and eight hunter characters across 12 maps, but those willing to pre-purchase Evolve on their consoles (once the option to do so is available) will be able to deploy hunters Abe, Parnell, Caira and Cabot as well as the Wraith monster during the beta, 2K Games recently announced. What's more, the four extra hunters and the Wraith will remain unlocked from the get-go in the launch version of Evolve, giving those that pre-purchase a decent headstart with earning access to the game's roster. There's still future DLC additions to factor in of course, but if you decide the disc's cast is sizeable enough, you'll still be able to play matches with those that have splurged on roster additions. For the sake of clarity, this pre-purchase bonus will be available only for those that buy Evolve straight from the Xbox One Store. Pre-orders placed for retail copies will not earn the same shortcut for unlocking extra characters when Evolve launches on February 10. [Image: 2K Games]
Joystiq Streams: The sound of thunder in Evolve
I'm going hunting, I'm the hunter/I'll bring back the goods/But I don't know when No, Bjork isn't a selectable character in Turtle Rock Studio's first major multiplayer shooter since creating Left 4 Dead. Just four hunters fulfilling four distinctive roles as they bring down the most dangerous prey of all: human! Actually, in Evolve it's a human controlling a giant beast that becomes more powerful as it eats little octopus-dinosaurs. It's a whole thing. You'll see when we play it for you live. Joystiq.com/Twitch will broadcast a solid helping of a feature-complete Evolve starting at 4:00PM EST. Come join us! Joystiq.com/Twitch broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00PM EST, but we stream all the time as we're doing today so follow us on Twitch. [Images: 2K Games]
Evolve goes gold, spawns lengthy intro cinematic
Left 4 Dead creator Turtle Rock Studios has completed development on its upcoming team-based monster shooter Evolve, and to celebrate publisher 2K Games has issued the above footage, a nearly three-minute-long intro cinematic pulled straight from the game. [Image: 2K Games]
