EVE Online to Web3: CCP Games Announces Blockchain Game “Project Awakening”

Details of CCP Games’ game “Project Awakening” have been officially announced by the Icelandic developer. The game, which is expected to take place in the universe of the legendary game EVE Online, is expected to have blockchain technology at its heart.

The announcement comes less than a month before the 11th anniversary of EVE Online, a game known for its complex mechanics and life-like in-game economy. The complexity of the game means that most players are familiar with complex market operations, corporate management, and supply chain management.

With the new game integrating blockchain technology, the complexity of the whole EVE Universe could be turned up a notch if the developer decided to bring them together. While there are many details yet to be announced, the game has widely been referred to as a “Web3” and “blockchain” game.

Bringing Legacy to the Blockchain

Having been around for 26 years already, CCP Games has become a widely recognized game among hardcore games. Its flagship game, EVE Online, is notorious for its mechanical difficulty, cutthroat corporate-like culture, and rich economy. In the game, most objects and notorious events are created by the players themselves.

While CCP has not announced any plans to integrate blockchain technology in EVE Online, the announcement of Project Awakening represents a major step into moving to disruptive technologies. The firm raised $40 million back in March 2023 in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz to develop Project Awakening.

CCP Games CEO Hilmar V. Pétursson announced that the blockchain features of the game would allow players to “add their own features and functionality to the experience”. The game’s blockchain infrastructure was developed in collaboration with blockchain developer Lattice, the creator of the Carbon Development Platform and MUD framework used by CCP for the game.

With Lattice CEO Justin Glibert highlighting the new game will be “a universe where actions have consequences”, gamers and blockchain enthusiasts are already speculating about the extent of the blockchain integration.

What We Know So Far

While CCP Game’s announcement didn’t provide many details on the blockchain aspect of the game, some information was made available when the funding round was announced. Pétursson referred back then to the integration of blockchain as a catalyst to “forge a new universe deeply imbued with our expertise in player agency and autonomy”.

According to the original announcement, Project Awakening’s “key game systems” would not only be developed on-chain but also make use of smart contracts to ensure the persistence, openness, and “composability” of the game.

Given the game’s scope and CCP Game’s status, this could make Project Awakening one of the first, if not the first, true AAA blockchain game. a16z General Partner Jonathan Lai said last year that the developer was uniquely qualified for this endeavor, while also stating the game would be an “intersection of best-in-class game design and blockchain technology.”

A “Long Time Coming” Decision

While the news about CCP Game’s new blockchain-based game has surprised many, most stakeholders and EVE Online players have been expecting the announcement for years. Pearl Abyss, which acquired CCP Games back in 2018, announced its intention to bring blockchain into the EVE Online universe during its Q4 2021 Earnings Call.

NosyGamer transcripted some of the things that were said during the call, with Pearl Abyss allegedly stating that the company believed blockchain would accelerate player demand for active involvement in video games. As such, the company was ready to “create a stable blockchain ecosystem” that would be developed in partnership with CCP Games.

During its Q1 2022 Earnings Call, Pearl Abyss also made it clear it intended to use the EVE Online IP to meet the “current market trends of blockchain and web 3.0.” Q4 2023 Earning Call was no different, with the company placing a heavy emphasis on Project Awakening during its discussion with its stakeholders.

The success of the Icelandic developer’s new game, their first since being acquired by Pearl Abyss, remains to be seen… especially considering their past struggles to recapture the magic of their flagship title. However, with private backing and the support of a major publisher, this new venture might defy all expectations.