Eve Online: Battle Royal

This morning, in a completely unexpected announcement from CCP HQ, we have learned of the latest project to come from the Icelandic developer. Being cited as the “most original and groundbreaking” idea ever, it plans on shaking up the games market in a major way. Eve Online: Battle Royal, abbreviated EO:BR, combines elements of survival, quick-thinking, and the ever present ruthlessness we all know and love from the Eve universe.

“The concept is very simple,” begins CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, “you are placed in an Abyssal deadspace pocket with 99 other capsuleers, starting with nothing but a pod, and one goal— survive.” The match ends when there is one capsuleer, or squad of capsuleers remaining. Within the deadspace pocket are dozens of celestial bodies, each of which has various cargo containers, hack-able containers, and abandoned ships. With skill, and a little luck, you will scavenge your way to a fighting capable ship and hunt down or evade your fellow pilots.

Modules such as cloaks are unobtainable in this mode, and hiding on the outskirts of deadspace is ill-advised, due to an ever-expanding cloud of gas that begins to fill the pocket. This prevents players from safe-spotting and hiding for the duration of the match. Occasionally, wormholes will appear and deposit highly valuable cargo and ships. This adds extra tension and risk vs reward to something so noticeable and coveted to the players.

The match always concludes at an epic showdown at the Sun in the center of the deadspace pocket, as all battles should. In these final hectic moments, the pilots will use every resource they’ve gathered in an attempt to claim the coveted “Quafe Dinner” victory.

For those looking for more of a challenge, there is “Hardcore mode”, which drops all of your learned skills to 0, and you must train them in response to what you find in space. Start right next to a shiny Retribution? Best train your Amarr Frigates to 5! These matches will be designed to last for weeks to months on end to allow for a true, gritty survivor experience. Directional scanning can only be done once every 60 seconds, and repair items will be scarce.

EO:BR will be in closed beta soon; if you sign up by the end of the week, you’ll receive an exclusive cosmetic shirt for your capsuleer that does nothing except that it can be looted by people that kill you!