The long-awaited adaptation of EVE Online to television screens is finally gaining momentum. After years of development limbo, CCP Games confirms the project is still alive. With streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ revolutionizing sci-fi content, which platform might secure this cosmic saga? The battle for New Eden’s television rights continues as fans eagerly anticipate this ambitious adaptation.
The vast universe of EVE Online, one of gaming’s most complex virtual worlds, is steadily moving toward television adaptation. First announced in 2013, this ambitious project aims to translate the player-driven narratives of New Eden into compelling television. While progress has been slow, recent statements from CCP Games executives confirm the adaptation remains in active development. The studio’s commitment to quality over expediency suggests they seek the perfect streaming partner to bring their vision to life.
From gaming screens to streaming platforms: The evolution of the EVE Online TV series
The journey to adapt EVE Online began over a decade ago when Icelandic developer CCP Games partnered with acclaimed filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur. Their vision was ambitious – to craft a series based on the player-generated stories that had emerged from millions of gameplay hours in this persistent virtual universe. The initial concept focused on depicting “futuristic rival societies trapped beyond a wormhole in a dystopian science fiction world” – a premise that would capture the essence of EVE’s complex interstellar politics.
By 2014, the project gained significant credibility when Ridley Scott’s prestigious Scott Free Productions joined the development team. This partnership brought Hollywood gravitas to the adaptation, with both Scott and Kormákur announced as producers. Despite these promising beginnings, the project entered a period of relative silence that lasted several years, leaving fans to wonder about its status.
At Fanfest 2025, CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson finally broke this silence, confirming: “It’s still moving at a slow pace. We’re very busy right now, so we’re advancing slowly on this front. But we’re still making progress.” This measured approach stems from the company’s determination to create a series worthy of EVE’s legacy rather than rushing an inferior product to market.
Potential streaming homes: The battle for New Eden
As development continues, speculation grows about which streaming giant might eventually host the EVE Online series. The current landscape offers several compelling candidates:
| Platform | Sci-Fi Track Record | Potential Fit |
| Netflix | Altered Carbon, Lost in Space, Another Life | Strong history of high-budget sci-fi with creative freedom |
| Amazon Prime Video | The Expanse, Outer Range, Night Sky | Experience with complex space operas and gaming properties |
| Disney+ | Star Wars series, Marvel cosmic content | Resource-rich but potentially more content restrictions |
| Apple TV+ | Foundation, For All Mankind, Silo | Growing sci-fi portfolio with high production values |
While Pétursson has indicated they haven’t yet secured a major distribution partner, discussions are ongoing. The project has made substantive progress on narrative development, with Pétursson noting: “We’ve worked with a creative company here in Iceland on script treatment, the pilot, and other elements of that nature. Things are progressing quite well.”
The timing could be ideal as competition among streaming services intensifies, with sci-fi content proving particularly valuable for subscriber acquisition and retention. The unprecedented success of adaptations like “The Last of Us” demonstrates the potential of gaming properties when translated with fidelity and creative vision.
Why EVE Online presents unique storytelling possibilities
EVE Online is particularly suited for adaptation because of its rich, player-driven narrative environment. Unlike most MMORPGs, EVE features:
- A single-shard persistent universe where nearly all players globally interact on one server
- Player-controlled economies and politics that have evolved over two decades
- Massive-scale conflicts involving thousands of real players
- Complex espionage, diplomacy, and betrayal that unfold organically
Set more than 21,000 years in the future, EVE’s universe of New Eden became isolated when a wormhole collapsed, separating human colonies from Earth. These isolated settlements evolved into distinct interstellar empires with unique cultures and technologies. This setting provides a canvas for exploring themes of isolation, evolution, and the cyclical nature of civilization.
The “Bloodbath of B-R5RB” exemplifies EVE’s storytelling potential – a massive player battle involving thousands, destroying virtual assets worth over $300,000 in real-world equivalent value. Such events demonstrate how player decisions create memorable narratives that could drive episodic television content.
The future of gaming adaptations in premium television
The EVE Online adaptation emerges amid a renaissance for gaming properties in premium television. Recent successes have demonstrated that gaming adaptations can achieve critical acclaim and commercial success with careful development and respect for source material.
CCP Games’ meticulous approach may ultimately benefit the project. Their in-house production of game trailers has steadily approached television quality, developing expertise that informs their adaptation strategy. This evolution parallels the industry’s broader trend of game developers taking more control over adaptations of their intellectual property, ensuring greater fidelity to the source material.
As the project continues development, fans of both science fiction television and EVE Online can anticipate a series that aims to capture the complexity, scale, and player-driven drama that has made the game a cultural phenomenon, one significant enough to be included in New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. The question remains not if but when viewers will finally explore the vast reaches of New Eden on their screens, and which streaming service will ultimately claim this promising frontier.
