EVE dev opens CCP Newcastle doors

By Robert Purchese Published 29 June, 2010

Studio to research next generation tech.

The Newcastle office of EVE Online developer CCP has opened for business.

The studio will collaborate with CCP Asia to create console game DUST 514. Specifically, CCP Newcastle will look at ways to wring performance out of Unreal Engine 3.

Then, in the future, CCP Newcastle will begin researching technology for "the next generation of videogame consoles".

CCP Newcastle has been founded by key members of what was once Midway Newcastle - the team responsible for The Wheelman and, further back, Test Drive.

"The North East has a distinguished heritage of game development, an experienced console-development talent pool and local universities producing exceptional graduates. We have been able to assemble a world-class team of console developers with unparalleled Unreal Engine expertise and integrate them with CCP’s global organisation," commented CCP Newcastle's Richard Smith.

CCP Newcastle is recruiting.

DUST 514 is in development for PS3 and Xbox 360 and aims to link together with the EVE Online universe. Check it out in the vid below.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (16) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GamesConnoisseur #1 2 years ago

    Goody, always delighted to see happenings in my beloved home toon!

  • AphoticCosmos #2 2 years ago

    I don't play EVE any more, but I still adore CCP and I'll probably get involved with Dust because it seems like a more pick-up-and-play title that's still linked into EVE's awesome world (which I don't have time to devote to any more).

    I'm therefore chuffed that CCP opened a Newcastle studio. Wey-aye, man!

  • Spekingur #3 2 years ago

    Next-gen now = the next version of Playstation and XBox (PS4 then and XBox 720).

  • jack_klugman #4 2 years ago

    Spekingur: I suspect we won't be in the current generation until the announcement of the next "next generation".

  • ignatiusjreilly #5 2 years ago

    I think they're using next-gen in the proper sense - i.e. they'll be researching technology for the successors of the 360/PS3.

  • telboy007 #6 2 years ago

    If this game does link into the PI stuff currently going on in eve its going to be a bit weird, some people's PI setups are a bloody mess! :)

  • sneetch #7 2 years ago

    Surprised that there's no PC version if this is supposed to link with the EVE online universe: surely they're missing out on a ready market of people who already know EVE there.

  • Cosquae #8 2 years ago

    If they're just setting up the office now then DUST won't be around for quite a while. I agree with those expecting 'next' next-gen.

    For those of us setting up PI outposts, we must remember to leave copious amounts of ammunition laying around in strategically useful places, along with health kits, armour, traps and keycards.

    I will also train my crack marines to pay no attention when one of their comrades suddenly drops dead standing next to them. I will order that most doors be left unlocked and I will personally expel any soldier who can hit the broadside of a barn at 5 paces. Any vehicles left around the place will be fully armed, fueled and require no key nor prior training to be able to use them.

    ...oh and yes... there will be plenty of explosive barrels. Clearly marked in red... and my soldiers will be trained to seek cover and congregate behind them during a firefight.
    Edited by Cosquae at 29/06/10 @ 14:51

  • shadowaspect #9 2 years ago

    Explosive barrels too, please.

  • sneetch #10 2 years ago

    I really like the idea of getting a contract from an EVE player to go destroy/capture a PI.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #11 2 years ago

    @sneetch -from your other post while I kinda agree with you - i think i know what CCP are thinking 'EVE players' are too committed to EVE itself and this techically is only a 'minigame' in the grand sceam of EVE, as TBH if it had any major impact on EVE itself - it would kinda defunt features in EVE and being THAT player driven it'll hurt the game a lot, if actal EVE players lose control over the game to 'the masses'.

    IMO DUST is the 'Wii' of EVE - it's not really 'for' EVE players already it's to get EVE underneath 'the masses' skin so after picking up DUST they'll want to pick up EVE too, not saying it shouldn't be on PC nor us EVE players shouldn't be playing it (I know a lot of us will pick it up) it's just not targeted at us
    Edited by Kremlik at 29/06/10 @ 15:27

  • Deckard1 #12 2 years ago

    haway the toon!!!

  • SAMagic #13 2 years ago

    I can just imagine the trade transactions that will result:
    SELL 50 tonnes Stotty
    BUY 100 tonnes Brown Ale

  • Murton #14 2 years ago

    The studio is actually in Gateshead though, on the other side of the river and a town in its own right.

    Seems odd that there's no PC version in development if this is to link with EVE. I wonder if they've come to an arrangement with MS regarding the subscription fee (assuming there is one) already or are going to spend time and money on development only to pull the plug like we saw with Champions and APB.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #15 2 years ago

    @Murton - it's a normal FPS title so there is likely not to be a sub i dunno how it'll convert into EVE, I think it'll be just you can join a corp from EVE, then your win/loss count converts into faction control with that corp

  • Felwyn #16 2 years ago

    @kremlik I doubt that's the case since that would mean console people only play when the pc people decide it's time to play...also the accounting mmo demographic has nothing to do with the console fps demographic.

    Seeing as CCP are a clever bunch of people, the clans created on Dust should be able to play independently from the mmo corp.

    I see the following happening: the clans will be ranked according to win/losses and then placed on the market - obviously the better the clan the more money will corps be willing to spend to recruit them and so on and so on...like placing bets on a football match, the corps might want to know who will play, awesomeness will ensue