An exclusive announcement on IGN recently revealed that the EVE Online themed Oculus Rift tech demo which was first showcased at EVE’s 10th Anniversary celebrations in April is now being developed into a full-blown game called EVE:Valkyrie.
After scooping several awards (see pic below), the initial EVE-VR spaceship dogfighting demo (which I had the privilege of experiencing at Fanfest), has been greenlit to become a full-fledged commercial title due for release in 2014.
EVE-VR was based around the single-man fighter craft which feature in EVE Online as computer-controlled drones which were launched from vast player-controlled capital ships. The EVE-VR gameplay itself was limited to a team-based multiplayer with a squadron of player-controlled fighters launching from adjacent static carriers with the sole objective of using long-range missiles and short-range guns to destroy the opposition.
It was an experience that was heart-pounding, breathtaking and unique.
Space Combat Evolved
Details are still light, but the potential for EVE:Valkyrie is huge. The mind-blowing immersive 3D experience of the Oculus Rift is the perfect fit for a fighter-pilot experience and the execution shown by the EVE developers – who built EVE-VR as a part-time project – makes the EVE Universe an obvious choice.
Many questions remain unanswered; will EVE:Valkyrie have a single player campaign? Will there be plans to integrate the game into the EVE Universe as with PlayStation exclusive DUST 514? What platforms will it be available on? Will it be playable without an Oculus Rift headset? What payment model will CCP Games opt for? What vessels will be available to fly in game?
All we’ve got to go on presently is CCP’s official press statement in which CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson stated,
“What started as a passion project by a small, incredibly talented group of CCP developers became one of the most highly anticipated games of the year — before we even announced it. We have big plans for EVE: Valkyrie and I can’t wait to share more details later this year.”
After Pétursson told me at Fanfest that “we should not expect anything, we should prepare to be pleasantly surprised,” I think it is fair to assume that this is what he was referring to. I can’t wait for more info either.
Read on for speculation and pipedreams…
