CCP Games, the studio behind EVE Online, has been bought out by its own board of directors, ending its stint as a Pearl Abyss subsidiary. The deal valued the company at $120 million, paid in cash and non‑cash assets, and restores a governance model similar to the pre‑2018 era. Following the transaction, CCP will rebrand as Fenris Creations and signals renewed creative autonomy for its development teams.

CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson said the game survives thanks to pioneering thinking and player trust, and that the new Google DeepMind partnership will help push that legacy forward. DeepMind holds a minority stake and will build an offline EVE instance that runs on a local server, allowing developers to test AI models and experiment with novel gameplay mechanics, allowing safe large‑scale combat trials.

For players, the buyout means EVE will continue under a structure focused on long‑term world building rather than short‑term profit targets. Industry observers note that an AI‑enabled testing environment could accelerate feature rollouts and balance tweaks. As of now, no staffing or service changes have been announced, leaving the current live universe untouched.