CCP Games, the developer behind the popular MMORPG EVE Online, has officially unveiled its latest project: EVE Frontier. Previously referred to as Project Awakening, EVE Frontier is a blockchain-based space survival game set in the expansive EVE Online universe. Designed as a single-shard MMO, EVE Frontier will provide players with a vast, shared sandbox environment where survival, exploration, and player-driven economies take center stage.

The announcement comes as the game approaches a major milestone: a closed playtest phase, allowing players to experience the game firsthand. CCP Games has opened sign-ups for players interested in participating in this test phase, marking the next step in its multi-phase development process.

Project Awakening Now EVE Frontier

$40 Million in Funding

CCP Games, the creators of the popular sci-fi MMO EVE Online, recently secured $40 million in funding to expand its R&D capabilities and develop their AAA title leveraging blockchain technology, set within the EVE Universe. Blockchain gaming aficionados are abuzz with excitement as CCP Games, the renowned developer behind the massively popular EVE Online, has unveiled fresh details about their web3 IP.

Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games, described EVE Frontier as a novel blend of survival gameplay and the emergent, player-driven nature of the EVE universe. In a statement to GamesBeat, Pétursson commented: 

"EVE Frontier redefines the survival genre by fusing intense space survival gameplay with the limitless emergent potential of a player-driven, persistent sandbox universe. From exploiting space itself to shaping entire economies, every decision ripples across this dark and uncompromising expanse. We welcome you to join us in building this next step in our history; awake eternally."

CCP Games' EVE Online

New Survival Experience in the EVE Universe

EVE Frontier is set in a distant future, where players awake from stasis to discover the remnants of a once-flourishing civilization. The game's core mechanics revolve around exploring the frontier, gathering resources, upgrading spaceships, and surviving in a hostile environment. Combat also plays a central role, as players will face rogue AI forces that roam the galaxy, adding an element of danger to their journey.

A unique feature of EVE Frontier is the integration of blockchain technology, allowing players to create custom currencies and trade goods, services, and reputations. This player-driven economic system mirrors the emergent gameplay that EVE Online is known for, offering a new layer of depth to the space survival genre.

EVE Frontier Key Art 1

Web3 Integration and Player-Driven Economies

Incorporating blockchain technology sets EVE Frontier apart from traditional survival games. CCP Games has implemented a system called "Smart Assemblies," which is described as an enhanced base-building mechanic. Through Smart Assemblies, players can construct various structures, each imbued with programmable elements that link the in-game world to real-world actions and consequences. This open-ended platform offers players the freedom to shape their surroundings and influence the broader game world, a hallmark of CCP's design philosophy.

The ability to create custom currencies and establish marketplaces adds another dimension to EVE Frontier. Players can engage in trade and develop their own economic systems within the shared space of the game. These economies will not only affect in-game dynamics but may also interact with external, real-world markets, as hinted by the integration of blockchain technology.

EVE Frontier Key Art 2

Multi-Phase Development and Upcoming Playtest

CCP Games has been steadily developing EVE Frontier, with testing conducted across multiple phases. The most recent was Phase III, and the upcoming closed playtest will mark Phase IV. This gradual approach ensures that the game is fine-tuned based on feedback from its player base.

Last year, CCP Games secured $40 million in funding to support its blockchain-based gaming ambitions, positioning EVE Frontier as a key part of its future strategy. The development team has emphasized that player input will be crucial in shaping the game's direction, and the upcoming playtest will offer a glimpse into how the game has evolved so far.

EVE Frontier Key Art 3 

Final Thoughts

With EVE Frontier, CCP Games is pushing the boundaries of what a space survival game can be, combining blockchain technology, player-driven economies, and expansive sandbox gameplay. As the game moves closer to its closed playtest phase, the anticipation grows for how this new chapter in the EVE universe will unfold. Players eager to explore the frontier and leave their mark on this persistent, shared world can sign up for the upcoming playtest on the official EVE Frontier website.