Jurassic World Evolution announced for release alongside the new movie next year
Jurassic World Evolution will either have to end in unavoidable disaster every time or miss the whole point of the franchise. Either way, we're in.
Jurassic World Evolution was announced during Microsoft's gamescom 2017 presentation this weekend.
Releasing for PC, PS4 and Xbox One in northern summer 2018, it's nicely timed for the latest entry in the film franchise - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is due in June 2018.
Before you write it off as a licensed cash-in, pay attention to the developer. Jurassic World Evolution comes to us from Frontier Developments, best known for Elite: Dangerous these days but also responsible for Planet Coaster, Screamride, Zoo Tycoon, Thrillville and a whack of Rollercoaster Tycoon games.
That's a fair number of park management games, and several of them were very well received. Also, probably the best Jurassic Park game ever made was a park management sim, so that's worth remembering.
The announcement materials are a bit slim on details, but I have dutifully coughed up the official description of Jurassic World Evolution below, along with the debut trailer.
Jurassic World Evolution evolves players’ relationship with the Jurassic World film franchise, placing them in control of operations on the legendary island of Isla Nublar and the surrounding islands of the Muertes Archipelago. Players will build their own Jurassic World as they bioengineer new dinosaur breeds and construct attractions, containment and research facilities. Every choice leads to a different path and spectacular challenges arise when ‘life finds a way.’
I'm not really sure why anyone makes dinosaur park management sims when the best possible example is already freely available, but I won't deny the little Jurassic Park corner of my heart lifted a little watching the trailer.
Cross your claws, raptor fans.