On Friday CCP released a Director's Letter to let players know what the developers plan to introduce into EVE Online in 2024. On my first read-through, the letter felt like CCP Burger and CCP Rattati were just checking off a box. All the directors of big time games like Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft come out with periodic communications, so EVE's directors need to also. Although, if I'm honest, comparing the EVE Online Director's Letter to one of Yoshi-P's Producer Live Letter's would embarrass Friday's post. So instead, I'll just look at CCP's Director's Letter.
First off, the initial image offers nothing new. The closest is confirmation that the monthly EVE: Vanguard testing will continue throughout the year. Oh, and confirmed Vanguard will not launch in 2024. I guess confirmation that the two expansions per year business model will continue is nice, but at this point assumed. The highlighting of the two seasonal events once again confirms the lack of them throughout the rest of the year. Also, for the tournament crowd, confirmation that CCP will hold an alliance tournament in the third quarter will come as a relief.
Reading through the letter, we can assume the focus will shift to null sec after 18 months of attention lavished on low sec. The statement in the "Future of Warfare" section left little doubt.
In the lead-up to the summer expansion, a new era will begin to unfold in New Eden, details of which will start to be revealed in-game shortly. What we can say is exciting new technology and resources will give players the opportunity to build and customize their space in nullsec, creating new conflict drivers and objectives. Bold and lucrative opportunities will arise for established corporations and alliances, but also for small opportunists that can attack vulnerable areas to gain resources. One thing is certain, the value of owning and defending space is set to rise.
The letter did give a peak at customization options CCP plans to introduce in the summer expansion.
We are taking SKINR to dizzying new heights with ship customization through the design of custom SKINs, with an array of patterns, designs, and a broad spectrum of colors. The creative options are vast, and capsuleers will be able to design and manufacture SKINs, to personalize their own ships and entire fleets, or sell them to generate new income streams, further adding to individuality, identity, and agency in New Eden.
I guess this development is the equivalent of Final Fantasy XIV introducing two color dye patterns to equipment in the Endwalker expansion. The big difference between the two games is I never heard an EVE player unironically state that SKINs are the end game of EVE Online. Perhaps a null sec player can let me know if that has changed.
The next section left me scratching my head. For years and years those running corporations and alliances asked for help in the form of UI and role improvements in the corporation user interface. The argument was that corp and alliance leadership shouldn't have to go to outside applications to run player organizations in EVE. The largest, most successful organizations had to have their own IT departments to compete.
The developers made great strides in improving corporation management in the Viridian expansion. Well, at least I feel they did in managing my little personal corp. Those belonging to the massive alliances with years of built-up infrastructure may feel differently.
But is CCP going to jump the shark and make the corporation management improvements more than aids to make the lives of directors easier?
In 2024 we will expand the scope and impact of Corporation Projects with exciting improvements such as enabling corporations to create freelance tasks for non-members, which will become an essential avenue for recruitment, and a great way for capsuleers to build their confidence or simply earn some ISK. There will also be new methods to contribute to Corporation Projects, and the project conditions will be expanded to allow different methods of task completion.
Our long-term goal is to make Corporation Projects a cornerstone of corporate life, offering more diverse tasks, customizable goals, and a deeper connection to current events and the economy of New Eden.
Finally we get to the odd subject, putting first person shooter play into EVE Online. The devs are not rushing the development of the module, EVE: Vanguard.
Looking ahead to June, our Founders will get hands-on with a new map, a weapon modification feature will be introduced, and fittings will be persistent across sessions. Add to this the evolution of our mining prototype coming initially earlier in March, and all fans of FPS experiences within the EVE Universe will want to keep their eyes out for Vanguard updates coming in spring, summer, and beyond.
But why put an FPS into EVE after 20 years? If I were a complete cynic who has followed Pearl Abyss' finances for the last 5 years, I'd point out the disappointingly slow development of Crimson Desert and the need to help out our overlords in Anyang. But instead I feel idealistic and will point out the goal of CCP Games' CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson to produce "the ultimate science fiction experience". Another company is also claiming the mantle of best science fiction world simulator: Cloud Imperium Games.
While the two games, EVE and Star Citizen, operate at very different scales, Hilmar wants the title himself. Knowing Icelandic pride, I can't imagine CCP's leader wants to give up the title to a failed Hollywood producer who hasn't successfully published a video game since before the founding of Crowd Control Production in 1997. If Star Citizen has avatar and FPS play, rest assured so will EVE before Star Citizen launches.
As I re-read the director's letter for a third and fourth time looking for meaning, I came up with the words above. I'm not sure how satisfying people will find my take. But I really hope CCP puts out a lot more detail because I wasn't impressed with their first effort of the year.
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