Google invests in AI research at newly independent Eve Online developer

CCP Games has officially renamed itself Fenris Creations and has also split from Pearl Abyss. The studio, originally founded in 1997 as Loki margmiðlun in Reykjavík, Iceland, became known primarily for its single-shard online RPG Eve Online and mostly used CCP Games as its name.

The game had several distinctive features because all players were actually placed in a single universe. Things like server transfers were not necessary. Players could also run massive corporate structures with thousands of players, which were necessary to afford the largest ships in the universe and also to protect them. Teamwork was essential, especially since losing a ship could sometimes be very painful compared with other online games.

Anyone who wanted to move all their possessions from one station in the huge universe to another had to expect an ambush and the loss of their property, especially in the outer regions of the universe. With a large enough fleet, players could also cause considerable damage in the more secure inner areas. That gave the game a distinctive atmosphere, because risky operations always came with a sense of fear.

At the same time, this created an interesting player base, including intrigue and a great deal of politics. Some larger actions even made it into mainstream news. The economic system was also studied academically at times.

CCP Games also tried its hand in other areas, including major expansions of the Eve Online universe with crossplay with the PlayStation 3 through the game Dust 514. Console gamers thus became ground troops for Eve Online players. Its success was rather limited. The same was true of the ambitious World of Darkness during the company's temporary connection with White Wolf Publishing. Eve Online remained the company's main driver.

In 2018, South Korean studio Pearl Abyss acquired CCP Games, which did not please all players. Since May 6, CCP Games has once again been independent and operating as Fenris Creations, even though the website will remain the old one for now. fenriscreations.com currently redirects to the old site.

The separation cost around $120 million. The team is not expected to change, and the focus will continue to be on the Eve universe. That also applies to the branches in London and Shanghai.

However, a partnership with Google DeepMind is planned. It will be deployed in an offline version of the Eve Online universe. Google therefore also holds a minority stake in Fenris and is interested in the universe's distinctive features. Fenris says it will continue to communicate openly, including about AI research involving the universe's player-developed structures.