Last week saw CCP Games play host to EVE Fanfest 2023, celebrating the 20th anniversary of EVE Online on its journey to forever. A community gathering like no other, capsuleers from around the world flew into Reykjavík to come together, catch up with old friends, forge new bonds and learn about the latest developments in the EVE Universe.

This included revealing the latest expansion (EVE Online: Havoc) and online FPS module (EVE Vanguard) for EVE Online, as well as premiering “The Making of EVE Online: An Escapist Documentary” which chronicles the early development and philosophy behind the titular game.

As part of the keynote, CEO Hilmar Pétursson gave a brief update on Project Awakening, noting the project’s external funding announcement from earlier this year and giving a glimpse into its future:

Last year on this stage we talked about a small team experimenting with blockchain technology. At the start of this year, we announced Project Awakening, and the fact that we have raised $40M USD in external funding to move from experimentation into full development of a new title in the EVE Universe.

We are doing this because we want to take daring experiments that will teach us more about the craft of tools for people to build societies. It is still early, but I can share that we are heavily leaning into third-party development and the creation of a more inclusive business model, both of which are learning points from our journey so far.

CCP Games CEO, Hilmar Veigar Pétursson.

To learn more about Fanfest 2023 and what was announced, read here.

Speaking of crafting tools for societies, CCP Games also hosted an inaugural event which brought together experts, academics and industry leaders, looking at the craft, art, science and future of digital worlds: Digital Horizons.

The discourse and exploration provided valuable insight, as it took a unique deep dive into digital physics & economies, worldbuilding, social governance and blockchain technology, featuring speakers from the University of Oxford, Indiana University, The Central Bank of Iceland, the University of Akureyri, Optimism, 0xParc and more.

CCP Games, creators of sci-fi spacefaring MMO EVE Online, announced today that $40M in financing has been secured from external partners. This financing will allow CCP Games to build upon the discoveries of its research & development team to enable the full-scale development of a new AAA title utilizing blockchain technology, set within the EVE Universe.

“Since its inception, CCP Games’ vision has been to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life. Now, with advancements made within blockchain, we can forge a new universe deeply imbued with our expertise in player agency and autonomy, empowering players to engage in new ways. This financing has marked an exciting frontier in our studio history as we begin our third decade of virtual world operations. We are humbled by the confidence from our partners in the development of this new title.”

CCP Games CEO, Hilmar Veigar Pétursson.

With key game systems developed on-chain, this new project will also leverage smart-contract blockchain technology, focusing on persistence, composability and truly open third-party development to create a new relationship between virtual worlds and players.

This financing was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Makers Fund, BITKRAFT, Kingsway Capital, HASHED, Nexon, and additional participants.

“CCP Games is a pioneer in virtual worlds and digital economies with 25 years of experience creating living sandboxes with unparalleled depth. They're a veteran team and we believe in their ambitious vision to deliver incredible player experiences at the intersection of best-in-class game design and blockchain technology.”

a16z General Partner, Jonathan Lai.

“The depth and nuances of EVE have become a frequent point of reference in blockchain gaming and we are therefore thrilled to support the team's impressive vision of expanding the EVE Universe utilizing this technology. As a former employee, it's a great personal joy to be reunited with CCP and to witness their continued passion for creating truly meaningful virtual worlds.”

Makers Fund Principal, Alli Óttarsson.

“We've long marveled at stories of interstellar war, spaceships forever lost, and the constant challenges of staying ahead of emergent, sovereign play patterns. Hilmar and the team's experience is unmatched, and we're excited to see how they use blockchain to let players dream further.”

BITKRAFT Ventures Partner, Carlos Pereira.

Alongside independent financing, this new title’s production is separate from current and previously disclosed projects, including EVE Online, which is now in its landmark 20th year.

CCP Games looks forward to sharing updates as development progresses. To learn more about open positions at CCP Games, visit the careers page.