Developer CCP Games unveils the EVE Online content roadmap, the next expansion, new game teases, and more at EVE Fanfest 2022.
After four long years for Capsuleers, the legendary EVE Fanfest event has returned in-person to Reykjavík, Iceland – home of developer CCP Games – to celebrate EVE Online’s community, devs, future, and 19th birthday. There hasn’t been an in-person event for the spacefaring MMO since EVE Vegas in 2019.
During EVE Fanfest’s opening keynote presentation, CCP Games unveiled an ambitious EVE Online content roadmap and updates regarding new player onboarding, the next expansion coming in late 2022, all sorts of in-development features, and a notable integration of Microsoft Excel – a natural tool for such a data-heavy game that earned the largest cheer from a crowd of 750 fans attending the event.
Arguably the most exciting of EVE Online announcement is coming in the form Arcs, continued narrative-driven updates for EVE Online that will expand the lore of the game’s shared universe, New Eden. Also building hype for the audience, CCP is teased their work on an announced tactical shooter in the UK (seemingly a successor to the previously canceled Project Legion and Project Nova shooter prototypes in years past), the spiritual successor to Project Legion and Project Nova which were scrapped previously. There’s also Project M5, an in-development 4X title. On the VR front where CCP pioneered with EVE Valkyrie, Sparc, and more, the company remains in a holding pattern waiting for the user base to grow.
The first Arc comes in Q4 2022 with the next big EVE Online expansion with the aim of connecting players with the four in-game NPC Empires in a more direct way through in-game events and storytelling that span years. The goal is to flesh out New Eden while continuing to let players evolve and shape it.
Expanding EVE Online’s faction lore, CCP offered the most in-depth look yet at the Caldari homeworld in their trailer here:
Bergur Finnbogason, EVE Online’s Creative Director:
“EVE is getting ready to enter its third decade and the future has never been brighter. With arcs, we’re setting EVE up for the next chapter with a steady stream of narrative-driven content that emphasizes player actions and decisions. Veterans of the Triglavian Invasion may recall the fall of Pochven that altered trade routes and supply chains across New Eden – the narratives coming with arcs can have similar effects. The upcoming stories and events aren’t restricted to veterans, though – with more activities coming soon to the new player experience, all Capsuleers can enjoy EVE’s arcs, regardless of their skill level.”
Also detailed during the EVE Fanfest keynote presentation was the AIR Career Program – a new system that lets players follow one of four career paths.
EVE Online will offer players tailored recommendations based on their interests to help guide them in beginning their capsuleer journey. For more advanced players, especially those sinking their teeth into the economy, EVE Online’s new partnership with Microsoft allows capsuleers add a JavaScript API in Excel to export data from the game later this year.
Other updates include CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson re-confirming that controversial NFTs will not be a part of Tranquility, but that CCP Games will research it for the future to see if there’s something there as part of their efforts to have EVE Online last forever.
CCP is developing general improvements and new features for EVE Online, including audio and visual upgrades (increased level of detail for all in-game models, improved particle effects, high-res nebulae, etc.), the introduction of structure SKINs, UI improvements, the testing of a 3D HUD, and more. Some of the exciting highlights here included the tease of alliance logos and patterns coming to ships on ships, supercarrier holograms that change and grow based on achievements and standing, as well as attachments – all unlocked and impressive looking thanks to the investment in graphics tech presented today which was a through line of the keynote.
EVE Fanfest 2022 takes place today and tomorrow and we’ll be bringing coverage of the event throughout the coming days.
Rob Keyes manages content planning and processes, business development, social media, strategic partnerships, branding and PR for Screen Rant, Collider and Comic Book Resources (CBR). You may know also him from various television and radio appearances covering the superhero beat, co-hosting the Screen Rant Underground and Total Geekall podcasts – and now, the brand new PODCAST X – or founding and building Game Rant back in the day. Find Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes or @failcube and if you need to reach either site, he’s your guy rob [at] screenrant [dot] com.
Rob Keyes is Canadian, the longest serving member of Screen Rant, has a Masters Degree in Economics and degrees is marketing and computer science, is an Adjudicator and Judge for the Canadian Videogame Awards and The Game Awards, and is the world’s best TIE Interceptor pilot. You can see and chat with Rob live in the evenings at twitch.tv/failcube or see his videos at youtube.com/failcube.
