The studio responsible for the enduring space simulation Eve Online has announced a strategic alliance with Google, under which the tech giant will acquire a minority share. In return, Google’s DeepMind division will utilize the game’s environment to refine its artificial intelligence systems, as detailed in a Bloomberg report.
CCP Games, the creator and maintainer of Eve Online, has undergone a transformation, rebranding as Fenris Creations. This rebranding follows the company’s recent acquisition of the game’s rights from Korean publisher Pearl Abyss, a move that occurred after CCP repurchased the title for a sum significantly lower than Pearl Abyss’s initial investment, plus an additional $20 million in cryptocurrency.
According to Fenris Creations CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, Google’s financial contribution amounts to several million dollars. DeepMind plans to initially analyze player behavior on dedicated, isolated servers, as Eve Online demands cognitive skills that AI has not yet completely conquered. DeepMind’s Adrian Bolton highlighted challenges such as “long-term planning and continual learning” as key areas for AI development.
Eve Online has existed for more than two decades and is renowned for offering players unparalleled freedom in navigating its expansive universe. This complexity makes it an ideal dataset for DeepMind’s research. “We often joke that the ultimate challenge for AI in gaming is undoubtedly Eve Online,” Pétursson remarked. “Eve provides profound insights into our own societal structures and the human experience.”
Will participants derive any tangible benefits from this collaboration beyond their actions being monitored and analyzed by researchers? The involved companies have stated that the partnership “will also explore new gameplay experiences enabled by these technologies.” While this promise remains quite broad, it suggests potential future innovations.
Google’s AI laboratory has previously utilized various games for training its models, ranging from classic arcade titles to StarCraft II. Meanwhile, the newly established Fenris Creations is developing and supporting multiple projects within the Eve Online universe. These include the upcoming FPS spinoff Eve Vanguard and the recently released mobile game Eve Galaxy Conquest.
Lastly, there is Eve Frontier, a project that may face significant challenges. This blockchain-based spinoff, formerly known as Project Awakening, is expected to launch on the Sui blockchain.