At the first-ever sold-out EVE Fanfest, CCP Games announced a slew of additions to the franchise, including a new expansion for EVE Online, an FPS module, a new 4X strategy game, and the next phase of Project Discovery.
We’ll dig into each announcement in order.
Project Discovery
If you’re not sure what Project Discovery is, it’s described as such by CCP Games.
“Project Discovery harnesses EVE Online’s players to train AI-powered algorithms that analyze complex flow cytometry data and accelerate our understanding of immune system diseases. Since Project Discvoery’s COVID-19 research project kicked off in 2020, it has transformed how scientists analyze flow cytometry data.”
Phase Four will expand the team’s research to include immune system diseases, including cancer. On top of this, the team also revealed Play Science, a mobile app that will allow players to interact with Project Discovery from their phones, instead of having to do so in-game. Finally, CCP Games announced that Project Discovery’s dataset will be made publicly available, which the team says is “empowering researchers to develop algorithms and facilitate scientific breakthroughs.” Here are a few quick highlights of what Project Discovery has done.
- More than 700,000 EVE Online players participated in Project Discovery’s COVID-19 program.
- More than 380 million citizen science games have been played in EVE Online.
- Almost a third of the data examined (27%) met the scientific standard of consensus required for use by experts in fields like flow cytometry and immune system research.
- In 2021, Project Discovery had contributed over 330 years’ worth of research to understanding how COVID-19 affects human blood cells.
EVE Galaxy Conquest
EVE Galaxy Conquest is a new 4X strategy mobile game set to hit iOS and Android in Q4 2023, combining expiration, diplomacy, and player-vs-player battles. Players have to work as a team to battle opponents for interstellar supremacy, choosing from four different faction from EVE Online; the Caldari State, Gallete Federation, Amarr Empire, and Minmatar Republic.
“EVE Galaxy Conquest has truly been a labor of love for our team,” says Bing Xi, General Manager and Executive Producer at CCP Shanghai “As avid fans of EVE Online, we were inspired to capture what makes the MMO so exceptional and reimagine it within the 4X genre. We’re creating an experience that resonates with EVE veterans and opens the door for newcomers to explore and conquer New Eden in a way that’s perfectly suited for mobile platforms.”
More info on EVE Galaxy Conquest will be shared at a later date.
Havoc Expansion and Vanguard FPS
EVE Online’s new expansion is titled “Havoc,” and launches on November 14, 2023. This expansion will charge Capsuleers with bringing chaos to the frontlines of New Eden, as an invitation pirate figurehead known as the Deathless pushes players to discover a new star system, Zarzakh.
Outside of a new story, Havoc will rework and improve Corporation Projects, giving Corporation Leaders the new Corporation Project Manager role, which adds new ways to manage, contribute, and reward members for their efforts. Players can also expect new ships, including the Angel Titan and new factional Battlecruisers and Destroyers.
The final announcement was a first look at EVE Vanguard, a new multiplayer FPS module for EVE Online that’s being developed using Unreal Engine 5. Here’s a quick overview of Vanguard.
“In squads or solo, players will deploy onto the surface of planets wracked with turmoil and littered with opportunity. To advance their clone, suit and equipment, players will need to complete missions, acquire resources and engage in tactical combat with rival Vanguard squads as well as hostile forces, each with their own agenda.”
EVE Vanguard will be connected to EVE Online day one, starting with Vanguard players having an influence on Frontline Corruption. According to CCP Games, over time new gameplay, content, and interoperability with EVE Online will be added over time.
EVE Online Omega players will be able to access a publicly playable mass test in December, and Vanguard will have its own dedicated option in the EVE Online launcher.
Head to EVE Online’s official website for even more info.
