Yesterday CCP Games announced the name of the company's winter expansion for EVE Online, Revenant. Releasing on Tuesday 12 November, Revenant continues the story of The Deathless. Along with the expansion announcement CCP released a new trailer (seen below).
The below is from the press release found on the CCP's corporate site.
REYKJAVÍK, Iceland – October 10, 2024 – Today, CCP Games revealed EVE Online: Revenant, the next expansion for the legendary spacefaring sci-fi MMO, EVE Online. As old threats reemerge, Revenant sees the ongoing Deathless Saga take an unexpected turn when it begins its launch on 12 November. The Drifters have laid siege to the Deathless in Zarzakh, targeting a shrouded and mysterious structure bearing the hallmarks of ancient technology. In the wake of battle and as the promise of its power grows, the Deathless has called upon the capsuleers of New Eden to help uncover its secrets and stand together in the face of rising chaos and conflict.
As the tides of war shift, EVE Online: Revenant adds new ways for you to build up your war arsenal in the fight against the Drifters. Aid the Deathless in unlocking the structure and secure ancient artifacts to be rewarded with formidable technology to turn the tide of battle in your favor. Construct mercenary dens within nullsec and strategically deploy them around skyhooks to generate encrypted infomorphs that can be exchanged with the Deathless for advanced new ships and cutting-edge weaponry. To boost the production of encrypted infomorphs, capsuleers can undertake Tactical Operations, as well as upgrade their mercenary dens.
Acquire unique Deathless ships - the Tholos (destroyer) and Cenotaph (battlecruiser) - that specialize in close-range brawls, giving newfound tactical utility across PvP and PvE combat with damage-over-time weaponry. Cloak to ambush unsuspecting enemies before unleashing their signature attack to lay waste from even beyond the grave.
“An ancient proverb says, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ This is the theme for Revenant, which marks the continuation of an intense chapter in EVE’s history: the Deathless Saga,” said Bergur Finnbogason, Creative Director for EVE Online. “While the Deathless may have won the battle for Zarzakh, the Drifters remain an eminent threat, having emerged from the shadows once more. But with this victory the Deathless has managed to get his hands on something that was not meant for capsuleers. Will this newfound technology be suppressed, or will they harness its furious power?”
At this point I'll start quoting from the expansion's special website to go into some of the juicy gameplay details. First up are the new ships coming in the expansion. Although only two new ships are coming, they will bring a different type of combat tactics.
The Deathless brings a new paradigm to space combat with the unique Tholos destroyer and Cenotaph battlecruiser. These powerful ships use covert ops cloaks to slip close to enemies and unleash devastating SCARAB breaching pods and Shriker Clone weaponry, inflicting damage over time to disrupt enemy internals. Designed for brawling, they are powerful weapons and give a tactical edge in the ongoing war.
For the null sec powers, Revenant will add additional features to the Equinox sov system.
Mercenary dens are deployable structures in nullsec that latch onto orbital skyhooks around temperate planets, utilizing planetary workforces to produce encrypted infomorphs, which are highly sought after by the Deathless . Shortly after launch capsuleers will have the ability to engage in tactical operations to manage development and anarchy levels in their dens, maintaining infomorph production and reaping valuable rewards. Use these dens to build, disrupt, or raid enemy systems and exchange your spoils for exclusive Deathless ships, weapons, and ammo.
This next passage from the press release is more likely aimed at investors rather than players. From years of covering Pearl Abyss' earnings calls, building social cohesion in the form of strengthening player organizations seems to go over well with investors, or at least the financial analysts on the calls.
EVE Online: Revenant also adds new ways for players to unlock their collective and individual potential. Build stronger groups with enhanced Corporation Projects. Streamline your goals: merge diverse activities into one project through expanded parameters and tailor projects by setting deadlines and placing participation limits. Utilize the new ship insurance project type to empower your corporation in automating ship replacement.
With enhanced expression and customization for SKINR, capsuleers can elevate their creativity and take their creations to new heights. Experiment with new nanocoatings and patterns, blending them together to craft stunning SKINS. Design exclusive SKINS for your corporation or alliance, allowing you to showcase your colors in unison and strengthen your visual presence across New Eden. A new section in the Paragon Hub makes it easy to find SKINS tailored specifically for your group, enabling you to create a unique "uniform" and share it exclusively with fellow members.
"Strong organizations are the lifeblood of EVE Online. With Revenant, we’re giving players the tools to strengthen their corporations. Enhanced Corporation Projects will help streamline goals, while the new SKINR features allow for creative expression of your group's identity. These updates will empower players and foster a sense of unity across New Eden,” said Snorri Árnason, Game Director for EVE Online.
Honestly, I'm not sold on the SKINR system. Ask me again in a month if CCP meets it's revenue goal of ₩20 billion in the 3rd quarter. However, alliance logisticians might find some of the new features appealing.
Corporation leaders can better manage their organization’s goals with enhanced Corporation Project capabilities. Expanded project parameters add flexibility, allowing leaders to set comprehensive, complex and diverse goals, such as mining in multiple locations or targeting various ship types and ship groups. The new Ship Insurance project type (coming shortly following the Revenant launch) offers a streamlined way to automate ship replacement programs, providing a seamless and guaranteed compensation system for members based on the loss value. Project deadlines help corporation leaders prioritize and communicate goals and can signal the urgency and importance of specific projects, helping members prioritize their efforts. Finally, participation limits will ensure equitable involvement across members.
And yes, one needs to read the fine details to see CCP's version of a ship replacement program will appear sometime after the expansion's launch.
Finally from the press release, is Revenant the expansion which introduces integration with EVE Vanguard?
As war flares in the skies above, EVE Vanguard will also take the conflict planet-side with a new public event running 28 November - 9 December. As the largest update yet for the in-development online sci-fi FPS, experience new content, features and a deepened vision for boots-on-the-ground combat within New Eden.
The press release didn't mention a couple of important items. The first is a new use for Evermarks.
Choose how you progress in New Eden with the flexibility of using EverMarks to complete AIR Daily Goals (coming shortly following the Revenant launch). Whether a task doesn't suit your playstyle or seems out of reach, EverMarks let you stay on track while focusing on the activities you enjoy. This empowers you to customize your daily experience and still gain the rewards and progression needed to stay ahead.
I don't think I've ever used any of my EverMarks. I do wonder if the developers will remove Evermarks as a daily reward from the AIR Daily Goals.
The second item are login rewards. The news article on the EVE Online site provided the information.
In celebration of the Revenant release, capsuleers who log in daily for the first two weeks will earn a variety of rewards, including a total of 10,000 EverMarks, SKINR design elements, boosters, Skill Points, and more. Both Alpha and Omega clones will benefit from these rewards, with Omegas getting both.
We'll see more details over the next four weeks, but for now we have a name and date for the new expansion.
No comments:
Post a Comment