The era of CCP Games has officially come to an end. In a massive restructuring announcement, the studio behind EVE Online has rebranded itself as Fenris Creations, marking its departure from Pearl Abyss and the start of a new chapter defined by independent operations and cutting-scale technology.

The End of CCP Games and the Move to Independence

After years of being under the umbrella of Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss, the studio is officially going its own way. Following a strategic review regarding long-term priorities and operating contexts, the two companies have agreed to a separation valued at $120 million.

While the loss of a 30-year-old brand is a significant shift for the industry, the internal structure of the studio remains stable. According to CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, the transition focuses on ownership and governance rather than day-to-day operations.

The studio confirmed that there will be no immediate changes to:

  • Development Teams: The crews working on EVE Online, EVE Frontier, EVE Vanguard, and EVE Galaxy Conquest are staying put.
  • Global Studios: Operations in Reykjavík, London, and Shanghai will continue without interruption.
  • Creative Direction: Leadership and existing product roadmaps remain unchanged.

Fenris Creations and the Google DeepMind AI Partnership

The most groundbreaking aspect of this rebrand is not just the new name, but a new AI research partnership with Google DeepMind. As part of this deal, Google will take a minority stake in Fenris Creations, utilizing an offline version of EVE Online as a sophisticated training ground for advanced AI models.

This partnership aims to use the complex, player-driven universe of New Eden to test and evaluate AI in a controlled environment. The research will focus on several high-level objectives:

  • Long-horizon planning
  • Advanced memory retention
  • Continual learning capabilities
  • New, AI-enabled gameplay experiences

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, noted that games have historically been central to the lab's breakthroughs—such as AlphaGo and AlphaStar—because they serve as perfect environments for testing algorithms.

Fenris Creations has a history of integrating new tech into their titles. Earlier this year, the studio launched an AI-powered assistance feature in EVE Online, trained on over 5.8 million messages from the game's help channels to assist new players navigating the complex interface.

A Strong Financial Future for New Eden

Despite the massive corporate upheaval, the financial health of the studio appears robust. Pétursson reported that 2025 has yielded some of the strongest results in years for EVE Online, including a record-breaking November and one of the most successful quarters in the game's 20-year history.

With "strong reserves" and a profitable standing, Fenris Creations is well-positioned to fund its new research ventures. Fans looking for more concrete details regarding the DeepMind collaboration can expect more information at EVE Fanfest 2026, which is scheduled to begin on May 14.