The Drifter Crisis Of 2025 - Updates To The Patch Notes And Lore

"No plan survives first contact with the enemy."

- Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

I'm a little disconnected from events in EVE Online. I just tend to my planetary industry, carryout public courier contracts when available, and play the Project Discovery mini-game. Other PvE content does exist, such as the current live event in EVE called "The Drifter Crisis". We are three weeks into the event so perhaps an update is in order.

One of the elements I appreciate, even if I don't participate, is the mixing of game changes into the lore. So, for example, a player victory over a Vigilant Dreamer in Tash-Murkon resulted in an upgrade in player capabilities.

Using telemetry gathered during the Vigilant Dreamer’s destruction in Tash-Murkon, the Society of Conscious Thought has been able to synthesize new upgrades for Crisis response fleets. Targeting computer modifications and improved hyperspace tracking methodologies will ensure Vigilant Dreamers remain available for assault as long as they are in a system.

Okay, the reality is probably a little different. The devs probably needed to adjust some timing features to give players more time to engage the big bosses in the fights. But the lore spin makes the adjustment sound cooler. Especially since the players involved in the Tash-Murkon battle are now enshrined in the lore.

Three weeks into the event and New Eden has changed, at least in Empire space. First, the patch notes from 5-12 February concerning the event.

Patch Notes for 2025-02-05.1

Balancing: Drifter Crisis

• Influence has been adjusted:
• Removed Influence loss when failing certain Crisis sites
• Increased Influence gained when completing Crisis sites
• 'Crisis Resolution: Vigilant Dreamer' sites will only appear if at least 2 days have passed within a Crisis system
  
  
• Greatly increased the number of Observatory Spectrography items found within 'Crisis: Observatory Infiltration' sites
  
  
• Added a 30-minute failure timer which will start during a lockdown if the short lockdown timer modifier is not active within a 'Crisis: Observatory Infiltration' site
  
  
• Roaming NPCs within Drifter Crisis systems will no longer attack capsules

Patch Notes for 2025-02-06.1

Drifter Crisis:

• Added a Patient Beacon which will spawn within a 'Crisis: Observatory Infiltration' site when the lockdown defense fleet modifier is active.
• This object can be hacked to disable the defense fleet from appearing during a lockdown.
  
  
• Added a minimum amount of contribution capsuleers will need to meet to be considered for a 'Crisis: Observatory Infiltration' site's payout.
  
  
• Added an Info Panel objective which states if the site is in lockdown within the acceleration gate area of a 'Crisis: Observatory Infiltration' site.

Patch Notes for 2025-02-11.1

Drifter Crisis:

• Remove the failure timer from ‘Crisis Resolution: Vigilant Dreamer’ sites.
  
  
• Decreasing the rate of Influence decay over time within high-security Crisis systems.
• Influence can now be gained incrementally within certain Crisis sites.
  
  
• For example, successfully hacking a Drifter Collection will now give a share of that site’s influence rather than all on completion.
  
  
• Only players within 100km of a Crisis site’s focal point will be considered eligible for payouts. The focal points are as follows:
• Crisis: Field Rescue — The celestial beacon.
• Crisis: Observatory Infiltration — The Unmoored Jovian Observatory.
• Crisis: Deathless Research Outpost — The Wormhole Research Outpost.
• Crisis: Lancer Counter Offensive — The Destructive Scrutinizer.
• Crisis Resolution: Vigilant Dreamer — The Vigilant Dreamer.
  
  
• Increasing the maximum number of sites available within each Crisis system.

And what does the lore say about the major players in the event?

Amarr

Following the player's victory in Tash-Mukon, the home system of Empress Catiz I, the factions had the following reactions. First, the Empress:

“Almost nine and a half years ago, my predecessor was assassinated by a fleet of the same profane monstrosities that plague our heavens once more,” The Empress began, “They dared to try usurp our Lord’s will and challenge our faith. Well, the faithful have risen to that challenge like a righteous flame! In these skies, as in Kobam and in Anath, we have proved that none can stand against us!”

Next the opposition, which in typical Amarr fashion is all the other royal houses:

Lord Tunir Tash-Murkon, heir and head of House Tash-Murkon, welcomed the empresses' words, adding his gratitude for the support of the other Heirs during this trying time. The other Royal Houses have historically held mixed sentiments towards the Tash-Murkon. Their Udorian heritage and pragmatic economic approach have caused some members of the Holder caste to join militant terrorist organizations like the Disciples of Purity (formerly Purity of the Throne) rather than acknowledge Empress Catiz Tash-Murkon I as their ruler. Today, not a single negative sentiment could be found in print regarding the House as people took to the streets to celebrate across the Empire. Lord Arim Ardishapur even went as far as to call their victory “a sign of divine purpose”, going on to say that “in this time of conflict, we are blessed to have an Empress from such a resilient people.”

Caldari

The Caldari did suffer a setback in Fuskunen but chose to focus on their successes.

Chairman Akimaka Saraki has once again commended State forces and capsuleers alike for their successes in Ichinumi, Silen, and Ruvas. “Swift in their response, our loyal ships were the first to force a Drifter retreat. A unified and disciplined response with capsuleer support has proven once more to be the key that unlocks triumph.” Megacorporations Lai Dai, Sukuuvestaa, and Hyasyoda joined the chairman in his praise as their stations within the affected systems were able to return to business as usual. Saraki commented that, “When faced with an outside threat, there are no factions, only Caldari.”

Minmatar

The Minmatar system of Hadozeko was hit hard by the Drifters. While the factional warfare facilities survived relatively unscathed, the tribes on the system's planets were not so fortunate. The overall political impact of the Drifter attacks was rather muffled compared to those of the Amarr.

Despite their initial lack of preparation, an incredible effort by Minmatar forces and their capsuleer allies was more than enough to defeat the Drifters first in Geffur, then in Nein. Sanmatar Maleatu Shakor has cited these victories as “proof of the importance of tribal unity.” Thukker Chief Ennar Aeboul who has been openly critical of the Republic’s response declined to comment.

Gallente

I don't want to say anything about the way Gallente fight, but I really wouldn't take a drone boat in against Drifters. Then again, perhaps my way of thinking is archaic.

The first to warn of the coming Crisis, the Gallente Federation has suffered most greatly as it unfolds. The systems of Hare, Niballe, and Gererique all experienced significant losses despite capsuleers' best efforts. President Celes Aguard has called once more for capsuleers to “join us in standing up for liberty. These invaders openly call themselves tyrants, they must not be allowed to harm our citizens. Even now they attack us once more in Nausschie, Ravarin, and Uphene. It is up to us to secure the future of our democracy, our liberty, against these aggressors.”

Then again, perhaps the uproar over an “irresponsible” Niballe mindclash tournament whose fans disrupted evacuation efforts shows the Gallente sometimes don't have their priorities in order.

Society of Conscious Thought

The SoCT took over the Jove's role as the provider of advanced technology years ago.

Using telemetry gathered during the Vigilant Dreamer’s destruction in Tash-Murkon, the Society of Conscious Thought has been able to synthesize new upgrades for Crisis response fleets. Targeting computer modifications and improved hyperspace tracking methodologies will ensure Vigilant Dreamers remain available for assault as long as they are in a system.

The Drifters

And as players wouldn't have direct knowledge of Drifter plans and motivations, the Society speaks for them through their intelligence network.

At the same time, however, SOCT intel indicates that Drifters are committing to more persistent Vigilant Dreamer deployments. Dreamers are now expected to remain in system until they have completed their task or are destroyed in the attempt. This will mean no more retreats by Drifter forces as long as their Vigilant Dreamers remain operational.

The SOCT has also observed a spike in Drifter hyperspace communication traffic throughout the Amarr Empire simultaneous with drops in traffic throughout Gallente space. These changes followed the recent successes against the Drifters in Amarr space, along with uninterrupted streams from Drifter sites in Federation space.

At the end of January the number of players logged into EVE was in decline. When Jester's next ACU graph is published I'll be interested to see if these changes had any effects on the activity in New Eden.