EVE Online: Odyssey launches, inspiring new adventures inside world's largest universe

CCP releases 19^th free expansion for highly praised sci-fi MMO EVE Online®

Reykjavik, Iceland – June 4, 2013 – CCP Games, the leading independent developer of massively multiplayer online games, has released the 19^th free expansion for EVE Online, the most successful science fiction MMO of all time. EVE Online: Odyssey revitalizes exploration of the cosmic frontier, fortifying one of the greatest inspirational forces for those who have come to experience the EVE universe during its ten amazing years. Changes to scanning, hidden sites, and discovery are just a few of the additions designed to help pilots continue their epic journeys through New Eden.

Odyssey introduces the Sensor Overlay, a new system that helps players uncover the riches, riddles and relics hidden among the stars. This improved scanner sports a streamlined user interface, with gorgeous visuals and improved utility sure to inspire new players and veteran explorers to undock for fresh adventures.

EVE Online: Odyssey brings evolved and enhanced spaceship metrics for multiple ship classes and redistributed stellar resource landscape, exploration sites, and NPC loot across the universe. These changes will shake up EVE’s player-driven economy and rattle tenuous diplomatic ties between even the largest player alliances of New Eden. Allegiances will shift, markets will boom and crash, and fresh wars will rage across the cosmos as EVE’s notorious pilots do what they do best—follow their ambitions and live their own unique and dramatic stories.

Just in time for these upheavals, Odyssey also rolls out brand new Navy Battlecruisers in which to explore, exploit, and conquer the galaxy. Player-owned starbases have also gotten an update, as the new expansion introduces dozens of fixes, updates, user interface innovations, and enhanced features such as radial menus and probe formations to make EVE Online more accessible without sacrificing its world-renowned depth.

“Odyssey is about revisiting the original promise of EVE Online; a truly massive universe filled with danger, opportunity and wonder,” said Andie Nordgren, senior producer for EVE Online. “Yet the true excitement and drama comes, as always in EVE, from the interaction between players vying to attain the same goals. Odyssey adds fuel to that fire.”

Celebrating ten years of consecutive growth, EVE Online now boasts over half a million subscribers worldwide.  With the mercenaries of newly-launched DUST 514® (free to download and play on the PlayStation®3) invading the EVE Universe, there is no better time for players to begin their own odyssey in the world’s largest universe as its Second Decade begins.

Further information about EVE Online: Odyssey can be found via the following online resources:

• The  EVE Online: Odyssey feature page: http://www.eveonline.com/odyssey
• The Odyssey expansion trailer
• Odyssey Hacking and Archaeology video tutorial
• Complete patch notes
• Recent developer blogs covering EVE Online: Odyssey

Media requests: Ned Coker (nedcoker@ccpgames.com)

About EVE Online

EVE Online is a spectacular, captivating gaming experience where hundreds of thousands of players compete within the same virtual cosmic universe for riches, power, glory and adventure. In EVE, players can create and live out their most virtuous or sinister dreams, piloting starships through a futuristic galaxy featuring a sophisticated, player-run economy and solar systems rife with treasures to be discovered. With professions ranging from commodities trader to mercenary, industrial entrepreneur to pirate, mining engineer to fleet commander and more, EVE players have access to a diverse array of tools and interfaces to forge their own exhilarating path. EVE players can also interact within EVE Gate, a Web-based portal for the EVE community to connect, organize and communicate outside the game itself. Learn more and sign up for a free trial at www.eveonline.com

About CCP

CCP is recognized for the creation of revolutionary gaming experiences designed with a unique combination of stunning artistry and advanced technology. Best known as the independent developer and publisher of EVE Online, the critically acclaimed, space-based massively multiplayer online game (MMO), it has two additional titles now in production: World of Darkness, a dark, immersive MMO based on the legendary roleplaying franchise of the same name; and DUST 514, the groundbreaking massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) set in and linked to the EVE Online universe. Founded in Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held and has offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, Reykjavik and Shanghai with a datacenter in London. More information can be found at www.ccpgames.com

DUST 514 Launch Heralds New Era of First-Person Shooters

The Uprising Begins: PlayStation®3 Gamers Worldwide Gain the Power to Topple Empires, Free of Charge

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – 2013.05.14 – CCP Games, the leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, today launched DUST 514®, the world's first free-to-play, multiplayer first-person shooter on a console. The battle for dominance of the EVE Universe escalates to new heights today as DUST mercenaries forge their paths to fame and fortune in a PlayStation ®3 exclusive. 

Launch is only the beginning of the journey for DUST 514 players. As with CCP’s first game, EVE Online®, DUST 514 is an ever-evolving game as a service, built on the technical foundation and experience CCP has gathered over the past decade. New features, content, and upgrades are planned for years to come, beginning with an update in June and additional major releases throughout 2013. All updates to DUST 514 come at no cost, truly keeping the game free-to-play for all players.

“DUST 514 has been forged by the willpower and skills of the players who have joined us on the journey to launch, and the talent and determination of our development teams around the world,” said CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson. “We are now poised for the next phase of development of DUST 514 and the EVE Universe. We are off to a fantastic start, and ahead is the opportunity to expand even further what games can become. After a decade of preparing for this moment, we will at last see the emerging society of DUST players begin to fight gun-and-grenade for planetary dominance, alongside their EVE Online brethren. For all we have done so far, our best moments are yet to come.” 

DUST 514 is a new breed of first-person shooter, which in addition to tight gunplay features a path to unlimited dropsuit fittings and customization options, taking the player to new dimensions of character progression. The end result is a unique tactical advantage that will allow mercenaries to push DUST 514 beyond the bounds set by the game’s creators, and arm them with the ability to impact their war on a galactic scale.

DUST 514 is also fully integrated with the notorious sci-fi setting of EVE Online, a massive game universe that recently surpassed a half-million subscribers worldwide and which has been growing and expanding for a decade. Together, DUST 514 and EVE Online offer a combined sandbox of unprecedented intergalactic scale, with the outcome of ground battles impacting the persistent universe of EVE and shifting the tide of war for legions of participants. Mercenaries can gain advantage by coordinating with starship pilots in EVE Online, calling in devastating orbital strikes against opposing squads.

The fortunes of DUST 514 players will rise and fall as they align themselves with like-minded warriors to make their mark across the EVE Universe. Players join forces with their fellow DUST mercenaries and EVE Online capsuleers to form player-run corporations and alliances, conquer planets and solar systems one battle at a time, and claim their own pieces of New Eden to serve the greater good – or their own ambitions!

Coinciding with the launch of DUST 514, CCP will be offering three new item bundles on the PSN Store and the Sony Entertainment Network Store:

·         Mercenary Pack – An updated version of the popular open beta bundle that includes 40,000 Aurum to spend in-game, a 30-day skill booster (+50%), and exclusive gear.  ($19.99 / £15.99 / €19.99)

·         Veteran Pack – Comes with dropsuits, boosters, 100,000 Aurum, a permanent Blood Raider Acolyte vehicle, a deadly sniper rifle, and more. ($49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99)

·         Elite Pack - The ultimate in mercenary preparedness, the Elite Pack offers 200,000 Aurum, boosters, four dropsuits, multiple weapons, a permanent light attack vehicle, and a collection of Heavy Assault Vehicles. ($99.99 / £84.99 / €99.99)

The uprising of DUST 514’s mercenaries has begun, and their impact will leave New Eden forever altered.

###

About DUST 514®

The first of its kind, DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a free-to-play, premium, massively multiplayer first-person shooter directly connected to the acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac). In DUST 514, players assume the role of deadly mercenaries who fight dynamic ground wars to control planets in the EVE Universe of New Eden. Players are armed with limitless customization options including weapons, vehicles, armor, and enhanced weapons, armor and vehicles. In DUST 514 every action has real consequences that ripple across a persistent universe of countless players worldwide. For more information, visit DUST514.com.

About CCP
CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare. DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.  World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

EVE Online Rockets into its Second Decade

New Peak Concurrent User Milestone Hit During 10^th Anniversary Celebration

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND—May 6, 2013—CCP Games, the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, today celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the launch of EVE Online®, the groundbreaking, sci-fi online game with over 500,000 subscribers worldwide.  Launched on May 6, 2003, EVE Online marked its anniversary in style with an enormous in-game celebration that led to a new peak concurrent user (PCU) record for the game of over 65,000 players connected to the same server. 

Unlike in most online games, every one of those players was celebrating in the same connected universe. EVE Online has continuously existed on a single persistent server cluster shared by all its inhabitants for ten years.  This unique shared environment means actions have lasting consequences that ripple across the thousands of solar systems of EVE, and players’ reputations are built and destroyed by their own skill, deeds and relationships with other players.

Throughout the last 24 hours, CCP and its players held numerous live events in game and players were given special fireworks launchers munitions for their ships with which they could celebrate the game’s 10^th anniversary.

In addition, players received several other valuable gifts—character implants, avatar clothing and a “Sarum Magnate” frigate.

In honor of today’s anniversary the appreciation continues as CCP delivers a unique and powerful battlecruiser, the Society of Conscious Thought “Gnosis,” to the hangars of all active subscribers.

EVE Online’s 10^th anniversary celebration comes as CCP prepares for several additional major initiatives. 

Today also marks the launch of the “Uprising” expansion to DUST 514®, the company’s free-to-play online first-person shooter fully integrated into the universe of EVE Online. The Uprising expansion brings with it numerous improvements and enhancements including a substantial graphics upgrade, an updated user interface, and new gameplay modes, weapons and equipment. Uprising is the biggest update yet for DUST 514 and is currently available to download for free for anyone with a PlayStation®3 and access to the PlayStation Network.

CCP recently announced that DUST 514 will officially launch on May 14, escalating the struggle for interstellar dominance in the EVE Universe as players in both games join forces in shared, player-driven warfare spanning the depths of space and the surfaces of countless planets within it.

On June 4^th, CCP will launch EVE Online’s 19^th free expansion.  EVE Online: Odyssey will take the exploration of space to a whole new level with an entirely revamped scanning mechanic, a fresh and accessible user interface and enticing new rewards for finding and interacting with sites hidden among the stars. All of Odyssey’s exploration changes are designed to make space feel even more alive and they will make it easier and more compelling for pilots to forge their path through the mysterious and dangerous universe.

Throughout the year, CCP has been celebrating the 10^th anniversary of EVE Online with a “Second Decade” theme, focusing on the wealth of stories and successes of the first ten years of EVE and its year-on-year subscriber growth.

The new EVE Universe: Origins trailer can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZPCiqBLPM8

About EVE Online®
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a captivating science-fiction game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure in a single universe. EVE players build and command a wide variety of starships and traverse vast solar systems interconnected by a sophisticated player-driven economy, forging their own destinies in the meaningful context of other players vying to do the same. Learn more and play the free trial at www.eveonline.com.

About DUST 514®

The first of its kind, DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a free-to-play, premium, massively multiplayer first-person shooter directly connected to the acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac). In DUST 514, players assume the role of deadly mercenaries who fight dynamic ground wars to control planets in the EVE Universe of New Eden. Players are armed with limitless customization options including weapons, vehicles, armor, and enhanced weapons, armor and vehicles. In DUST 514 every action has real consequences that ripple across a persistent universe of countless players worldwide. For more information, visit DUST514.com.

About CCP
CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare.  DUST 514® (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online. World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

Press Contact: Ned Coker – nedcoker@ccpgames.com

EVE: The Second Decade Collector’s Edition Coming This October

Available for Pre-Purchase Now, Limited-Edition Box Set Celebrates Ten Years of EVE with Unique Items and Collectibles

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND—April 27, 2013—CCP Games, the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, today announced EVE: The Second Decade Collector’s Edition, a limited-edition box set containing numerous unique items to commemorate ten years of EVE Online® and the continuing evolution of the EVE Universe to include DUST 514®.

EVE: The Second Decade Collector’s Edition contains a series of exclusive, collectible items specially crafted for the EVE Online enthusiast and celebrating the game’s tenth anniversary, including:

·         Into the Second Decade, a 190-page, richly illustrated hardcover book commemorating the first 10 years of the EVE Universe. Into the Second Decade details the initial release of EVE Online, and chronicles its growth through the game’s numerous free expansions, the community events that helped define the experience, and the launch of DUST 514.

·         “Rifter” USB hub, a four-port USB hub modeled on an iconic EVE Online ship.

·         EVE Symphony CD, a live performance of the signature EVE soundtrack by the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Reykjavik during EVE Fanfest 2013.

·         The Danger Game board game, an English-language adaptation of the popular Icelandic board game. Created by a fledgling CCP in 1998, The Danger Game (Icelandic: Hættuspil) helped fund development of the original EVE Online release.

EVE: The Second Decade Collector’s Edition also contains one-time-use codes for unique in-game items for both EVE Online and CCP’s newest title, DUST 514, a free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter for the PlayStation®3, set in the same universe as EVE Online.

The in-game items include:

·         The “Golden Pod,” an exclusive skin for the iconic capsule (EVE Online).

·         A “Gnosis” Blueprint, a five-run blueprint of the 10th anniversary Gnosis, the Society of Conscious Thought battlecruiser (EVE Online).

·         The “Time Capsule,” a selection of collectible items based on classic EVE lore as well as memorable moments over the first decade (EVE Online).

·         A new skin for the Amarr Magnate frigate (EVE Online).

·         A selection of exclusive male and female clothing items and accessories to dress your pilot in style (EVE Online)

·         Powerful weapons and a collection of “Templar” dropsuits for (DUST 514).

The box set will also include a “Mystery Code” that will grant owners special, but currently secret, benefits related to future CCP products and events.

In addition to the items above, players who pre-purchase EVE: The Second Decade Collector’s Edition will receive two powerful in-game items: the “Nefantar Thrasher,” a glass cannon-style destroyer for EVE Online, and the Amarr Templar Drop Uplink, a spawn beacon for DUST 514 that requires no special skill-training to deploy or use.

“EVE Online is a unique experience in gaming, with the most passionate, imaginative and loyal gamers anywhere growing and evolving the EVE universe for over ten years,” said David Reid, Chief Marketing Officer at CCP. “This collector’s edition was created in honor of and specifically for those who have truly brought EVE’s solar systems to life.”

EVE: The Second Decade Collector’s Edition will cost $149.99/€149.99 and can be pre-purchased now worldwide via the new EVE store at https://store.eve.com/eve-the-second-decade-collectors-edition. 

It is also available via Amazon in the US here and Germany retailers this September at Flashpoint.

Throughout this year CCP will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of EVE Online with a “Second Decade” theme, focusing on the wealth of stories and successes of the first ten years of EVE and its year-on-year subscriber growth. CCP will also look forward to the next ten years of EVE and DUST with reveals, announcements, demonstrations and parties.

About EVE Online®
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a captivating science-fiction game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure in a single universe. EVE players build and command a wide variety of starships and traverse vast solar systems interconnected by a sophisticated player-driven economy, forging their own destinies in the meaningful context of other players vying to do the same. Learn more and play the free trial at www.eveonline.com.

About DUST 514®

The first of its kind, DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a free-to-play, premium massively multiplayer first-person shooter directly connected to the acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac). In DUST 514, players assume the role of deadly mercenaries who fight dynamic ground wars for dominance of planets in the EVE Universe. Players are armed with limitless customization options including weapons, vehicles, armor and specialized enhancement modules. In DUST 514 every action has real consequences that ripple across a persistent universe of countless players worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.dust514.com.

About CCP
CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare.  DUST 514® (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online. World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

DUST 514 Set for Launch on 5.14.2013

World’s First Free-to-Play First-Person Shooter on Console is Unleashed on PlayStation®3

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND –April 25, 2013 – CCP Games, the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, has announced that DUST 514® will launch on May 14, 2013. The groundbreaking, free-to-play first-person-shooter launches on PlayStation®3, and players can join the war for galactic supremacy with the ease of a free download.

As with CCP’s first game, EVE Online®, launch is only the beginning of the voyage with DUST 514. Gamers can look forward to an ever-progressing game, built on the experience CCP has gathered over the past decade, as new features and upgrades are rolled out for years to come. The way to victory is now open to any intergalactic mercenary with the guns and grit to accept the challenge. 

“Reaching this point has required many years, hundreds of CCP employees, and the engagement of millions of players who contributed fantastic feedback during the beta process,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “Now we start the real journey, which, decades from now, we will look back on with astonishment at all we accomplished. The EVE Universe will outlive us all.”

With the launch of DUST 514, the struggle for interstellar dominance in New Eden escalates as DUST mercenaries forge their path to glory. The power to topple empires will be in the hands of all who choose to seize it.  The game’s massive battlegrounds, deadly weapons, and futuristic vehicles form the foundation of the deep first-person shooter action that awaits, while unrivaled customization options allow players to shape their strategic advantage, tactical edge, and combat style with cunning and skill.

DUST 514 is also fully integrated with New Eden, the notorious setting of EVE Online, a massive game universe that recently surpassed a half-million subscribers worldwide. As DUST players wage war in this first-person shooter at unprecedented scale, the outcome of each ground battle impacts the persistent universe, shifting the tide of war for legions of participants. Mercenaries can gain the advantage by coordinating with starship pilots in EVE Online, calling in devastating orbital strikes against opposing squads. The fortunes of DUST 514 players will rise and fall as they align themselves with like-minded warriors to make their mark across the EVE Universe. 

Highlights of what players will experience in DUST 514 include:

• Massive Persistent Universe: Wage war on the surfaces of far-flung planets with countless environmental combinations.
• Planetary Conquest: Marshal your forces in a continuous, ever-changing battle to conquer the worlds of New Eden and control their resources.
• Large-scale Warfare: Vie for control of unique sci-fi battlefields with up to 32 players in simultaneous combat.
• Endless Customization: Create custom mercenaries with lethal dropsuits, skills and weapons.
• Vehicles On-demand: Acquire, outfit and deploy heavily armed and armored vehicles, on land and in the skies.
• Social Sandbox: Build a formidable corporation with thousands of players as you seize the opportunities and bounties that come with galactic conflict.
• Connected Experience: For the first time ever, join forces in a cross-platform gaming experience with the immortal starship pilots of EVE Online to conquer New Eden, one skirmish at a time.

On May 14, the uprising of DUST 514’s mercenaries begins and their impact will leave New Eden forever altered. 

About DUST 514®

The first of its kind, DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a free-to-play, premium, massively multiplayer first-person shooter directly connected to the acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac). In DUST 514, players assume the role of deadly mercenaries who fight dynamic ground wars to control planets in the EVE Universe of New Eden. Players are armed with limitless customization options including weapons, vehicles, armor, and enhanced weapons, armor and vehicles. In DUST 514 every action has real consequences that ripple across a persistent universe of countless players worldwide. For more information, visit DUST514.com.

About CCP
CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare. DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.  World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

CCP Games and Dark Horse Team Up for EVE Comic and Sourcebook Projects

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – April 27, 2013 – CCP Games, the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, today announced a partnership with Dark Horse to create a new comic series called EVE: TRUE STORIES  based on the massive universe of EVE Online® and DUST 514®. In addition, the two companies will collaborate on EVE: SOURCE, a hardcover book full of information and exclusive artwork that will be the definitive guide to the EVE Universe.

Available Winter 2013, EVE: SOURCE will be a comprehensive source book and visual guide to the expansive universe that players experience in EVE Online and DUST 514. Developed in close collaboration with CCP’s creative teams, the 184-page, full-color hardcover and digital edition will immerse readers in the history and lore of EVE through stunning artwork and never-before-released material detailing the setting, backstory, races and factions of the EVE Universe.

"It's going to take everything we've got to capture the amazing visuals and rich history of the EVE Universe in a single volume," said Dave Marshall, Editor, Dark Horse. "As we fill it with material from EVE Online’s stellar space combat to the ‘boots on the ground’ action of DUST 514’s planetary conflicts, EVE: SOURCE is shaping up to be one of the most stunning books we've ever published.”

Debuting Fall 2013 and available for free via Dark Horse Digital on the web (at http://digital.darkhorse.com) and mobile apps, EVE: TRUE STORIES will feature a series of short stories inspired by actual player-driven events in the EVE Universe submitted to the “True Stories From the First Decade” website at http://truestories.eveonline.com/.  Following its run online, Dark Horse will publish the full array of EVE: TRUE STORIES, along with additional bonus material, as a hardcover graphic novel available in bookstores worldwide Winter 2013.

“As we move into the second decade of EVE, the universe we share with our players is more alive than ever with stories that deserve to be celebrated and honored,” said Yohei Ishii, Vice President, Business Development, North America at CCP. “We look forward to sharing the stories inspired by these unique experiences with the world.”

EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a captivating science-fiction game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure in a single universe. On June 4^th, CCP will launch EVE Online: Odyssey, the 19^th free expansion for EVE Online. The launch of Odyssey comes as CCP celebrates the game’s tenth consecutive year of player growth, having passed the 500,000 worldwide subscriber mark in March. More information about EVE Online can be found at www.eveonline.com.

CCP recently announced that DUST 514 will launch on May 14^th. DUST 514 brings intense infantry combat, large-scale warfare and deep character advancement to the PlayStation®3 in an exclusive, free-to-play, massively multiplayer shooter. Set in, and integrated with, the massive universe of EVE Online, players wage war in this next generation first-person shooter, where a single victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire and thousands of online gamers. More information about DUST 514 can be found at www.dust514.com.

About Dark Horse

Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, Guillermo Del Toro and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE: Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

About CCP
CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare. DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.  World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

CCP Games Signs Deal to Develop EVE Universe Television Series with Baltasar Kormákur

Partnership Paves Way for Player-Submitted Stories to be Seen by Millions of Viewers

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – April 27, 2013 – CCP Games, the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, announced today that they have entered into a creative partnership with filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur and his production company to bring the EVE Universe to television screens worldwide. 

The new television series will take its inspiration from the millions of people who have left their mark on the EVE Universe via stories submitted to the website http://truestories.eveonline.com.  Kormákur's creative team, in collaboration with CCP, will create an original concept and storyline set in the EVE Universe, a future history of rival societies trapped beyond a wormhole in a dystopian sci-fi world.

Baltasar Kormákur has been making movies of all genres for more than a decade and his films consistently garner both critical and commercial success. He started 2012 by topping the US box office with Contraband, starring Mark Wahlberg. Contraband was based on his Icelandic film Reykjavik Rotterdam, which Kormákur starred in and produced. His latest Icelandic film, The Deep, was shortlisted for an academy award nomination in 2013 and won a record-breaking 11 Edda Awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

Currently Kormákur is in post-production of 2 Guns, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, which Universal Pictures will release August 2, 2013. He is also directing the pilot episode of the HBO thriller The Missionary, starring Benjamin Walker, produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Charles Randolph. Randolph is also the creator of The Missionary.

“The EVE universe is full of astounding stories of epic battles, daring heists, and gripping political intrigue, all of which will make for an amazing television series,” said Baltasar Kormákur. “The opportunity to interact with the fans of the EVE Universe directly opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities.”

“The inhabitants of the notorious and beloved EVE Universe have ten years’ worth of dramatic stories to tell,” added Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP.  “Our close collaboration with Baltasar and his creative team gives me confidence that we will capture EVE’s essence, inspiring millions of TV viewers with visions of humanity’s future.”

EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a captivating science-fiction game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure in a single universe. On June 4^th, CCP will launch EVE Online: Odyssey, the 19^th free expansion for EVE Online. The launch of Odyssey comes as CCP celebrates the game’s tenth consecutive year of player growth, having passed the 500,000 worldwide subscriber mark in March. More information about EVE Online can be found at www.eveonline.com.

CCP recently announced that DUST 514 will launch on May 14^th. DUST 514 brings intense infantry combat, large-scale warfare and deep character advancement to the PlayStation®3 in an exclusive, free-to-play, massively multiplayer shooter. Set in, and integrated with, the massive universe of EVE Online, players wage war in this first-person shooter, where a single victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire of thousands of online gamers. More information about DUST 514 can be found at www.dust514.com.

About Kormákur's Team

The creative team working with Kormákur has years of experience. His main partners on this project are producer Magnus V. Sigurdsson with writers Ólafur Egilsson and Sigurjón Kjartansson. Sigurdsson and Kjartansson have played a leading role in the Icelandic TV industry for many years, creating and producing over 400 hours of television. One of their drama series, Réttur (2009), has been picked up by Howard Gordon (24) and Alex Cary (Homeland) for US remake.

About CCP

CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare. DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.  World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

Leading Scientists to Share Vision of Humanity's Future Among the Stars at EVE Fanfest

CCP ANNOUNCES SLATE OF “MAKE EVE REAL” SPEAKERS TO PRESENT AT SOLD OUT EVENT

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND—Apr 10, 2013—CCP Games, the world’s leading independent massively multiplayer game developer, today announced the full slate of speakers for the “Make EVE Real” track at its sold-out, annual fan celebration EVE Fanfest (April 25-27). Dr. Richard Obousy (President and Co-Founder of Icarus Interstellar) and Chris Lewicki (President of Planetary Resources) will join Michael Laine (President of LiftPort Group) in sharing their distinct visions for how current science fiction may soon become reality.

The new “Make EVE Real” speaker track is comprised of three luminary speakers and scientific pioneers who will share bold initiatives for humanity and its place among the stars, exploring areas where the tech and science behind EVE’s future universe could become a modern reality. The sessions taking place at this year’s Fanfest are:

Title:                     Space Elevators – Past, Present, and Future

Speaker:              Michael Laine, President, LiftPort Group

Summary:           Take a look at the early concepts behind the Space Elevator, its history and evolution, its current status and where humanity goes from here!  This multimedia conversation (it’s not a lecture!) will examine social, political, technological and military implications of building “the biggest thing, ever.”  Both Lunar (gravity-based) and Earth (spin-based) Space Elevators will be discussed.

Title:                     Bringing FTL to IRL – The Quest for Warp Speed

Speaker:              Dr. Richard Obousy, President and Co-Founder, Icarus Interstellar

Summary:           The thought of traveling to distant star systems has captured humankind’s imagination for a millennium… so what is being done to get us there? This lively discussion will delve into the challenges associated with FTL propulsion and tantalizing possibilities raised by the latest research in theoretical physics.

Title:                     Asteroid Mining: Our Search for Riches Enters the Final Frontier

Speaker:              Chris Lewicki, President, Planetary Resources

Summary:           First it was the gold rush, then we began hunting for oil and soon, we'll begin trekking across the solar system in search of new and rare resources. In this session, the Flight Director for NASA's Mars rovers “Spirit” and “Opportunity” will show us how plotting our resource expansion by rocketing across The Milky Way to mine asteroids is just around the corner. This engaging presentation will discuss the near-future of space exploration and asteroid prospecting.

For those unable to attend, CCP will be live streaming EVE Fanfest and all of the “Make EVE Real” sessions in standard definition for free on their Twitch.TV channel (www.twitch.tv/ccp) and in HD for a one-time fee of $19.95 USD or one PLEX (which can be obtained on the EVE Online in-game market). Viewers will get the latest announcements from CCP, panels, presentations, PvP tournament coverage from both EVE and DUST and the famous Party at the Top of the World amongst other unannounced events. All programming is highly produced and includes commentary and interviews from developers and players in the true EVE community spirit.

The EVE Fanfest high definition stream includes:

• Three full days of high definition programming live from Fanfest
• Access to the HD stream of a series of live pre-Fanfest interviews with CCP developers. Schedule: http://www.twitch.tv/ccp
• A digital copy of the Fanfest “Quafe” T-shirt for EVE Online, which matches the shirt attendees receive
• A choice of one of five pirate faction rookie ships for EVE Online: the Angel Cartel Echo, Blood Raider Hematos, Dread Guristas Taipan, Sansha’s Nation Immolator or Serpentis Violator
• Fifty copies of the Quafe Scout vk.0 dropsuit for DUST 514—a flashy and effective dropsuit for confident mercenaries

While the HD stream can be purchased through CCP or Twitch, only viewers purchasing the stream through CCP’s EVE Online account management system at https://secure.eveonline.com/fanfest/stream.aspx will receive the in-game promo items.

This year CCP will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of EVE Online with a “Second Decade” theme, focusing on the wealth of stories and successes of the first ten years of EVE and its year-on-year subscriber growth.  CCP will also look forward to the next ten years of EVE and DUST with reveals, announcements, demonstrations and parties.

More about EVE Fanfest: http://fanfest.eveonline.com

More HD Stream Details: http://fanfest.eveonline.com/HDstream

About CCP

CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare.  DUST 514® (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.   World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

CCP Updates DUST 514 Open Beta with Uprising Build on May 6

Biggest DUST 514 upgrade arrives on EVE Online’s 10^th Anniversary to forever alter the battlefields of New Eden

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND –March 26, 2013 – CCP Games, the world’s leading independent massively multiplayer game developer, is pleased to announce that on May 6, 2013, the very date that EVE Online launched 10 years ago, the DUST 514® Uprising build will roll out, bringing new features to the mercenaries of New Eden!

Celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the hugely successful MMO EVE Online as DUST 514 upgrades to the Uprising build, its biggest update yet. With Uprising, CCP takes another bold step toward the launch of DUST 514 and the further evolution of CCP’s single-shard universe.

Currently in open beta, DUST 514 brings intense infantry combat, large-scale warfare and deep character advancement to the PlayStation®3 in an exclusive, free-to-play, massively multiplayer shooter. Set in, and integrated with, the massive universe of EVE Online, players wage war in this next generation first-person shooter, where a single victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire and thousands of online gamers. 

“We reached a momentous milestone in January when DUST 514 and EVE Online became one and formed the largest single-shard MMO universe in the world,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP.  “Now our teams will continue to

CCP Announces EVE Online: Odyssey to be released June 4th

As EVE Celebrates a Second Decade, 19^th Free Expansion Opens
New Frontiers for Exploration

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND—Mar 25, 2013—CCP Games, the world’s leading independent massively multiplayer game developer, today announced EVE Online: Odyssey, the 19^th free expansion to the award-winning sci-fi MMO EVE Online® will be released on June 4^th, 2013. In the tradition of the Apocrypha expansion, Odyssey greatly expands the opportunities for players to explore all corners of the massive EVE Universe and its 7,929 solar systems.

EVE Online: Odyssey will take the exploration of space to a whole new level with an entirely revamped scanning mechanic, a fresh and accessible user interface and enticing new rewards for finding and interacting with sites hidden among the stars. All of Odyssey’s exploration changes are designed to make space feel even more alive and they will make it easier and more compelling for pilots to forge their path through the mysterious and dangerous universe.

Universe-wide resource redistribution and ship rebalancing will shake up the entire EVE metagame across social, economic, military and political levels, leading to new types of conflicts, fresh strategies and shifting allegiances amongst EVE’s player alliances. EVE Online: Odyssey will also debut new ships, star base improvements, graphics updates and a few surprises to be unveiled in the future.

EVE Online Surpasses 500,000 Subscribers Worldwide

Start of Game’s Second Decade Sees Most Explosive Subscriber Growth in its Rich History

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – Feb 28, 2013 – CCP Games, the world’s leading independent massively multiplayer game studio, today announced their award-winning, sci-fi MMO EVE Online® had surpassed the 500,000 subscriber mark worldwide for the first time in the game’s history. The milestone continues ten consecutive years of subscriber growth and follows the December 4 release of EVE Online: Retribution, the game’s 18^th free expansion and its most successful ever.

Also in December, EVE Online relaunched in China with new partner Tiancity to bring the same sandbox-style gameplay to a massive new audience where it has been thriving ever since.

In January, CCP’s DUST 514® a free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter, went into open beta and became available for free download exclusively to PlayStation®3 users worldwide. DUST 514 shares the same, real-time universe as EVE Online and player corporations can coordinate attacks between the two games.  This marked the first time two games from different genres have been linked together into one, massive online experience.

“Ten years after release, it is incredibly inspiring that, through a lot of hard work from our EVE Online team, we are crossing the half-million subscriber mark,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “For me, this is a true testament that EVE can live on forever, as long as we do right by her. We have not come to this point alone; millions of players have helped push us to this milestone. I now know in my mind what I previously only believed in my heart: that EVE will outlive us all.”

CCP will commemorate EVE Online’s tenth anniversary throughout the year under a unified “Second Decade” theme. The year-long celebration will kick off in late April in Reykjavik, Iceland with the sold-out EVE Fanfest, EVE Online’s annual player festival which will be streamed live online.  EVE’s official tenth birthday follows on May 6^th and will mark the official start of the second decade of the EVE Universe.

Throughout the year, CCP will be supporting player gatherings around the world and holding in-game events to further the storyline of the combined universe as it continues to grow.

• For more information about EVE Online: Retribution, please visit: http://www.eveonline.com/retribution
• Additional information about EVE Fanfest 2013 can be found here: http://fanfest.eveonline.com/en/default.aspx
• For more on DUST 514, please visit: http://www.dust514.com/

About EVE Online®
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a captivating science-fiction game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure in a single universe. EVE players build and command a wide variety of starships and traverse vast solar systems interconnected by a sophisticated player-driven economy, forging their own destinies in the meaningful context of other players vying to do the same. Learn more and play the free trial at www.eveonline.com.

About DUST 514®

The first of its kind, DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a free-to-play, premium massively multiplayer first-person shooter directly connected to the acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac). In DUST 514, players assume the role of deadly mercenaries who fight dynamic ground wars for dominance of planets in the EVE Universe. Players are armed with limitless customization options including weapons, vehicles, armor and specialized enhancement modules. In DUST 514 every action has real consequences that ripple across a persistent universe of countless players worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.dust514.com.

About CCP
CCP is the world’s leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare.  DUST 514® (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.   World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.

EVE Online Featured in Applied Design at The Museum of Modern Art

Award-winning sci-fi online game visualizes a day in its universe

March 1, 2013: EVE Online®, the massively multiplayer online game celebrating its tenth straight year of growth, has been acquired by The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as one of the first fourteen video games to enter its permanent collection. The famous New York City museum’s new Applied Design installation opened to the public this afternoon and will run through January 31, 2014. It showcases a collection of video games selected by a panel of industry experts, amongst other media and artwork.

For its portion of the exhibit, CCP Games created a “day in the universe” visual experience that brings the museum-goer on a journey in the EVE Universe through the everyday actions of some of the more than 500,000 inhabitants from 230 countries around the world. A call for submissions of personal gameplay recordings from EVE players yielded genuine, real-life gaming experiences from a single day in EVE history that were then combined with 1.2 terabytes of data from EVE’s server databases and Big Data storage into a larger narrative representing the massive sci-fi game and player interactions within it.

“We couldn’t imagine telling the story of the EVE Universe without putting our players and their actions front and center,” said Torfi Frans Olafsson, Creative Director, EVE IP Development Division. “The exhibition was such an inspiring project to work on. Seeing our universe under the same roof as so many other legendary works we love makes that collaboration an even more meaningful honor.”

The MoMA exhibit is one of the first leaps for EVE Online as it hurtles into its second decade, following shortly after its 18^th and most successful free expansion, Retribution, launched in December. Other major upcoming EVE events include a sold-out EVE Fanfest, CCP’s annual player festival in Reykjavik, Iceland, and EVE‘s official May 6^th tenth anniversary.

For more information on Applied Design, please visit the MoMA press site at: http://press.moma.org/2013/02/applied-design/

• CCP’s crowdsourcing effort for exhibit material: http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&nbid=74037

• EVE Online information: http://www.eveonline.com

Press inquiries: Ned Coker – nedcoker@ccpgames.com

CCP Ushers In The Second Decade of EVE Online at Fanfest 2013

The greatest fan event in gaming celebrates ten years with an unmatched community

7 February 2013 - Reykjavik, Iceland: CCP Games, the world’s most successful independent massively multiplayer online game (MMO) developer, today announced the theme for EVE Fanfest 2013 is “The Second Decade.” In its tenth straight year of subscriber growth and following a hugely successful free-expansion in Retribution, EVE Online is set to reach even higher levels now that DUST 514 PlayStation®3 beta players have joined the same shared universe.

EVE Fanfest is the annual festival that features over 1,000 EVE pilots, DUST 514 mercs and their friends and family from around the globe coming together in Reykjavik, Iceland for three straight days of constant celebration. This year will be the biggest, most amazing Fanfest yet, taking place less than a month before EVE Online’s tenth anniversary on May 6th and celebrated by the most unique and imaginative community in all of gaming.

As of this announcement, tickets for the event are nearly sold out, a truly blistering pace as the “Early Bird” package just ended with several of the extra events already at capacity.

“Fanfest is the truest celebration of the EVE universe, where online foes become instant friends and shared war stories over drinks bring our wonderful community even closer together,” said Hilmar Veigar Petursson, CEO of CCP. “This year, as DUST 514’s journey truly begins and we celebrate ten glorious years of EVE Online with our fans, CCP will be going bigger and bolder than ever before by creating a truly amazing Fanfest for those attending or following along.”

This year even more unique events will supplement the amazing panels, presentations, PvP tournaments, exotic local excursions, game demos, round tables, first-looks, developer pub crawls, concerts, parties and more.

Icelandic Symphony Orchestra

The night before the official opening of Fanfest, the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra will perform selected music from the original EVE Online soundtrack in an inspired and artistic performance that will set the mood for the events to come. Tickets and more information are available at http://midi.is/concerts/15/387/

Make EVE Real

The new “Make EVE Real” speaker track will include luminary speakers and scientific pioneers who will share bold initiatives for humanity and its place among the stars, exploring areas where the tech and science behind EVE’s future universe could become a modern reality. The first announced speaker, Michael Laine (President of LiftPort Group) will present a vision for the future of space exploration via a “space elevator” following over a decade of research with a world-class team of experts and a recently successful Kickstarter campaign to conduct an experiment and to engage the global community. More speakers actively involved in advancing towards what we now consider science-fiction will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mixed Martial Arts

Icelandic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) phenom Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson (10-0-1) will take part in a completely unique spectacle at Fanfest—bringing the fight to the ground like the DUST 514 mercenaries of the EVE Universe. Nelson recently signed a sponsorship with CCP for DUST 514 and will be attending Fanfest fresh off a Feb 16 UFC match in London’s legendary Wembley Arena.

Even more announcements about the massive EVE Universe Second Decade celebration will be revealed in the coming weeks, from musical acts to in-depth programming leading up to the famous Party at the Top of the World.

Tickets for EVE Fanfest and more information about the event can be found at: http://fanfest.eveonline.com

The Fanfest 2013 promotional trailer can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AuQnCfVq1M

For Fanfest support or specific inquiries, please contact fanfestsupport@eveonline.com

For more information about CCP, EVE Online, DUST 514 and other general inquiries, please contact nedcoker@ccpgames.com

(click images to enlarge)

Further screenshots from EVE Online and DUST 514 and promo shots from previous Fanfests are available upon request.

In World First, CCP Games Merges DUST 514® into EVE Online’s New Eden Universe

DUST 514 Open Beta begins January 22, 2013

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – January 14, 2013 – CCP Games today announced that on January 22, 2013, DUST 514 will officially move into Open Beta, free to download and play for anyone with a PlayStation®3. The path for the DUST 514 Open Beta was paved when, on January 10^th, CCP achieved the major milestone of merging DUST 514 with EVE Online on the Tranquility server hosting the EVE Universe.

By uniting DUST 514 and EVE Online on the same single-shard server, CCP has accomplished something unprecedented in videogame history: a single persistent online universe of incredible depth and scale that bridges the PC and console platforms in real time. Furthermore, this marks the first time two games from different genres, a space combat simulator and a first-person shooter, have been linked together into one, massive online experience.

“The launch of the DUST 514 Open Beta is another step towards our long-term vision for CCP and EVE,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “But this is just the beginning. As we have done with EVE Online, in the coming weeks, and for years to come, we will continually improve upon and add to the DUST 514 experience, as well as add deeper integration between the two games and their communities.”

Now Eve Online’s New Eden is an even bigger and more diversified universe where two games of interstellar combat exist concurrently and impact each other constantly.

DUST 514 Open Beta Begins January 22, 2013

On January 22^nd the wait will be over when Open Beta begins, but for DUST 514 mercenaries currently in the closed beta test, careers truly begin as of today. With no further character resets planned, every shot, every battle and every contract now counts.

More details about what happens to the existing mercenaries, load-outs, and corporations of DUST 514 during the brief migration period can be found at http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&nbid=74180

Players not currently in the DUST 514 closed beta still have a chance to get a head start before Open Beta officially begins.

Available now through the PlayStation Store, the DUST 514 Mercenary Pack grants closed beta access, 40,000 Aurum and a host of in-game items for $19.99 (a $50 value), all of which will remain intact as DUST 514 rolls into the Open Beta. In addition, as a special bonus for players in the Closed Beta test, anyone who plays a match before January 22 will receive a 100,000 Skill Point bonus to take into the Open Beta.

About DUST 514®

The first of its kind, DUST 514 (PlayStation®3) is a free-to-play, premium massively multiplayer first-person shooter directly connected to the acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac). In DUST 514, players assume the role of deadly mercenaries who fight dynamic ground wars for dominance of planets in the EVE Universe. Players are armed with limitless customization options including weapons, vehicles, armor and specialized enhancement modules. In DUST 514 every action has real consequences that ripple across a persistent universe of countless players worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.dust514.com.

About EVE Online
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a captivating science-fiction game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure in a single universe. EVE players build and command a wide variety of starships and traverse vast solar systems interconnected by a sophisticated player-driven economy, forging their own destinies in the meaningful context of other players vying to do the same. Learn more and play the free trial at www.eveonline.com.

About CCP

CCP is the world’s most successful independent developer of massively multiplayer games, and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac), which is celebrating its unprecedented tenth consecutive year of subscriber growth. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer science-fiction universe in which hundreds of thousands of players carve out empires through galactic fleet battles and the use of economic warfare. DUST 514® (PlayStation®3) is a groundbreaking, free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that is set in the EVE Universe and linked to EVE Online.  World of Darkness is a modern gothic horror massively multiplayer online role-playing game, based on the classic tabletop roleplaying game Vampire: the Masquerade. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1997, CCP is privately held with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, San Francisco and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.