It was announced this morning that Evolve, the new multiplayer shooter from the creators of Left 4 Dead will release on Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC on October 21.
The game looks set to provide a fresh take on the ever-popular genre, with 4v1 multiplayer set on an alien planet being the unique twist that developers Turtle Rock Studios will be hoping gives Evolve what it needs to compete in a hugely competitive holiday marketplace.
With Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare releasing on November 4, and Bungie’s long-awaited Destiny hitting on September 9, Evolve has a very small window to build up a player base—something that will make or break a game of this type. With the longevity of even the much-hyped Titanfall being called into question in recent weeks, it remains to be seen whether Evolve will be able to hold its own against two behemoths of console multiplayer later in the year.
However, it would certainly be too hasty to count Evolve out just yet. Coming from the same people who delivered a fresh, fun multiplayer experience with the original Left 4 Dead back in 2008, anticipation is already building—especially based on the emphatically positive word that has been coming out of just about every hands-on preview with the game. The asymmetrical approach to multiplayer—which pits four hunters against one powerful monster, all five combatants being controlled by a player—certainly has the potential to stand out as something new and exciting. That being said, it remains to be seen as to whether a multiplayer game with a sci-fi aesthetic can reach the mainstream as well as a military shooter in the post-Call of Duty landscape. This year will certainly be a crucial time for the future of the multiplayer shooter—it will be very interesting to see who comes out on top come Christmas.