The space MMO EVE Online has survived where so many others have collapsed. But with recent reports that Pearl Abyss is looking to sell CCP Games, its future once again hangs in the balance. The question now isn’t just who will buy it but whether the right lessons will finally be learned.
A Game That Refused to Evolve
I used to play EVE Online. Like many, I got pulled into the complex economy, the betrayal-filled politics, and the promise that something bigger was always coming. Back then, we were told we’d get station walking. Actual avatars interacting in real space stations. It felt like a natural next step.
Then the focus shifted. CCP began chasing side projects. Station walking was quietly shelved. I stepped away.
Looking back more than a decade later, it’s striking how little the core of EVE Online has changed. The game has depth, but it also demands a massive time investment. Without the expansions I was hoping for, it felt less like a sandbox and more like a second job.
Pearl Abyss Is Selling. That’s Not the Whole Story
Pearl Abyss bought CCP in 2018 with hopes of leveraging EVE Online and expanding into mobile gaming. Since then, CCP has generated steady revenue, reportedly around $60 million in 2024. Unfortunately, it failed to launch any new hit titles. Multiple side projects (FPS games, mobile spinoffs, even blockchain initiatives) fizzled out or were abandoned entirely.
Instead of replacing leadership or refocusing CCP’s strategy, Pearl Abyss is selling the company. That says a lot. It’s easier to offload the problem than fix the root of it. And while Hilmar Pétursson, CCP’s CEO, does know EVE inside and out, his track record with new IPs is hard to ignore.
Profit Isn’t the Problem. Focus Is
EVE Online is still profitable. That’s exactly why now is the perfect time to sell. A new buyer can recoup their investment while building on the strengths of the game. If they’re willing to confront the issues that have haunted CCP for years.
That starts with leadership.
There’s a long-standing rift between EVE players and CCP’s leadership, especially Hilmar. His tenure is marked by controversial monetization changes, abandoned spinoffs like Dust 514 and Valkyrie, and a pattern of chasing new tech like VR and blockchain instead of investing in the main game. Add in poor communication and broken community trust, and you have a company that feels stuck in its own orbit.
Yet, EVE Online is still here. That’s no small feat. Hilmar deserves credit for keeping the game alive for over two decades in an industry that eats MMOs alive. His championing of player agency and emergent gameplay has shaped a unique, player-driven universe.
Survival alone isn’t enough anymore.
A Buyer Needs More Than a Checkbook
The biggest threat to EVE Online isn’t being sold. It’s being bought by someone who doesn’t understand it. If the new owner treats it like a typical live-service title, focuses only on short-term revenue, or fails to address the leadership problem, history will repeat itself.
To move forward, the buyer must:
- ✅ Prioritize EVE Online as the core product, not a launching pad for side projects.
- ✅ Rebuild trust with the community through transparency and responsiveness.
- ✅ Consider a leadership change or surround Hilmar with voices that will challenge and redirect him when necessary.
EVE Online has always been about player agency. But what happens when the company behind it stops listening to its own community?
The sale of CCP is an opportunity. If the new owner values the game’s legacy and is willing to course correct. EVE doesn’t just need a new home. It needs someone brave enough to ask the hard question:
What could EVE become if someone finally stopped getting in its way?
