CCP Games Reportedly Put Up for Sale by Pearl Abyss After Seven-Year Ownership
In a notable turn of events, CCP Games—the Icelandic studio best known for its long-running sci-fi MMORPG EVE Online—is reportedly being put up for sale by its parent company, South Korean game developer Pearl Abyss, according to a recent report by Korean business outlet MTN
Pearl Abyss, known globally for Black Desert, had acquired CCP Games in September 2018 for approximately $425 million, aiming to broaden its global portfolio with the established success of EVE Online. At the time, the acquisition was seen as a strategic move to combine Pearl Abyss’s technical expertise with CCP’s reputation in sandbox MMOs.
A History of Unrealized Potential
Since its acquisition, however, CCP Games has struggled to expand meaningfully beyond its aging flagship product. The studio has a well-documented history of canceled or underperforming projects, including:
The ill-fated MMO set in the World of Darkness universe.
Project Legion and Project Nova, both attempts to build a new shooter.
VR experiments like EVE: Valkyrie, Gunjack, and Sparc, which failed to gain significant traction in a niche market.
Console FPS Dust 514, which was ultimately shut down after a brief run.
These missteps have arguably weakened investor confidence and may have led Pearl Abyss to reassess the value CCP brings to its broader business strategy.
Recent Developments That May Have Prompted the Decision
In recent months, CCP Games launched EVE: Frontier, a survival offshoot of EVE Online, in what it called a “Founder Access” program. Another project, Vanguard, continues the studio's trend of developing shooter games tied to the EVE universe—yet many fans remain skeptical after repeated failures in that space.
According to MTN, Pearl Abyss has approached multiple gaming firms to assess interest in acquiring CCP Games. While the exact reasoning behind this move hasn’t been officially confirmed, speculation suggests Pearl Abyss may prefer to consolidate its focus on its own highly anticipated IPs, including Crimson Desert and DokeV, rather than continue supporting a subsidiary whose expansion efforts have largely stalled.
What’s Next for EVE and CCP?
Should a sale take place, the future of EVE Online and CCP Games could pivot dramatically depending on the buyer's strategy. Despite CCP’s challenges, EVE Online remains a stable revenue generator with a deeply engaged player base and over two decades of active service. However, questions linger about how well CCP can evolve in a shifting MMO landscape.
At this time, no official statement has been made by Pearl Abyss or CCP Games regarding the rumored sale, and the identity of any potential buyer remains unknown.
Do you think a new owner could breathe fresh life into CCP Games and the EVE universe, or is the studio’s best work behind it?
