EVE breaks concurrent user record News

6 January, 2009

EVE Online developer CCP has announced that its space MMO EVE Online has just broken its peak concurrent user record. The number of players online at once now stands at 45,186.

That may not sound like much until you consider that it's almost one-fifth of the game's entire subscriber base - and that the vast majority of players all inhabit the same server (although there is a separate server for players in Asia).

It's also worth noting that, at five years of age, EVE Online is long past the point where most MMOs have started to lose players. CCP will be looking to grow its audience further with a big recruitment push alongside an expansion and an Atari-published box copy reissue this March.

It's not all good news for the Icelandic developer, however. Iceland's tail-spinning economy and collapsing currency are forcing CCP - one of the tiny country's most successful businesses - to consider leaving its homeland.

Chief economist Eyjolfur Gudmundsson told the Guardian just before Christmas that the restrictions on access to foreign currency are making its businesses untenable.

"To make new games, we need foreign investors," Gudmundsson said. "The present currency restrictions are putting us in a straitjacket. We are in talks with the government, but if we can't let capital in, we might be compelled to leave Iceland, even though this would be against our wishes."

For more on EVE Online, visit the EVE gamepage.

Are you excited about EVE Online on PC?
View Eurogamer readers most anticipated games

Yes

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

Poster

Comment Low-scoring comments hidden. Log in to see them!

t-bizzle

06/01/09 @ 09:13

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Let me be the first to say:

NNNERRRRRRRDDDDS!

swede

06/01/09 @ 09:15

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

I wish you didnt have to pay in Euros. Fecking weak pound! Will give this another bash when the 'walking round the space stations' bit is out.

DFawkes

06/01/09 @ 09:15

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

That's quite nice, though I've never seen a bunch of people in the same place at once due to being a big wuss who won't set foot out of high-security space.

Vistrix

06/01/09 @ 09:54

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

I wish all online worlds were like this.

An MMO shouldnt have to support 100+ servers of the exact same world. Having the entire game population in one world adds hugely to the gamiing experience.

rhinoxious

06/01/09 @ 10:24

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

That would have to be on freakin' big server for WOW though!

Vistrix

06/01/09 @ 10:45

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

@rhinoxious

I believe a game should design itself to prepare for massive populations. The world should be able to hold 40,000+ (or whatever the population is) and still be balanced.

In WoWs case, since its success is miles ahead of any other MMO, multiple servers are needed but not to the extent they have now (100s?).

boyscout

06/01/09 @ 10:46

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

they should go from iceland to england.

bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

shamblemonkee

06/01/09 @ 12:31

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Biggest fight i was ever in myself was 400 people. Lagfest!

Velios

06/01/09 @ 13:20

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Most of this new record is down to M.Corps recent recruitment drive :)

you can see our website HERE

DFawkes

06/01/09 @ 13:42

#10

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

You would claim that Velios. You would :)

I did see a whole bunch of recruitment things pop-up, to be fair, just before that record was broekn, so I'll give you credit where it's due - it is entirely possible. I avoided M.Corp myself, too hardcore for my tastes.

shamblemonkee

06/01/09 @ 13:59

#11

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

I drifted through in a corp with my best buddy in Cabeare (CVA) space then making an Alliance with RL friends in the new regions[Volt] before turning pirate in my downward spiral of game exiting glory with Church and Malicious Intentions *hugs -9 sec rating*

Ah, good days, happy times. Altho much to time consuming to pursue now.

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!