CCP Games Experiments with Player-Driven Economy in Eve Frontier

CCP Games Appoints Economist to Shape Eve Frontier Economy

Eve Online's developer, CCP Games, has named Stefán Þórarinsson, a former Central Bank of Iceland economist, as its new Head of Economy. His primary responsibility is to carry out tests to improve Eve Frontier's virtual economy, a survival game built on the blockchain. The goal is to build a stable, player-driven financial system before opening it to real-world transactions.

Þórarinsson believes virtual economies function similarly to real-world economies. However, the challenge lies in the lack of research and data, particularly in blockchain-backed economies. His first experiment will focus on gathering information about Eve Frontier’s economy while the game remains in a closed alpha stage with limited players.

Source: X

Eve Frontier runs on the Ethereum ecosystem using Redstone, a gaming-focused network powered by Optimism’s layer-2 scaling technology.

“We want to map the pricing system so we can anticipate changes,” Þórarinsson explained. “We need data on how monetary policy affects the game’s economy. Ideally, we’ll gather demand and supply curves. The more data, the better.”

Currently, Eve Frontier operates as a closed economy, meaning no in-game tokens can be exchanged for real-world money. CCP Games wants the system to be as efficient as possible before making that transition. Future experiments will depend on the results from this first phase.

Game Cycles and Economic Growth

Once the initial data is collected, Eve Frontier will move into 60-day development cycles, introducing new gameplay and economic mechanics. CCP Games CEO Hilmar Pétursson described this process as an evolving experiment to create a dynamic, player-driven economy.

Eve Frontier is fundamentally a survival game. The first phase of its economy will focus on helping players establish basic survival. As they adapt, they will need to defend themselves, leading to the emergence of new economic systems driven by player interactions.

CCP Games envisions a future where players manage the in-game economy with minimal developer intervention.

Source: X

“The economy will eventually function on its own,” Pétursson said. “The goal is for the world to become autonomous, with players shaping the society within it.”

Eve Frontier allows players to create missions and bounties using Ethereum’s Solidity smart contracts. This system lets players trade resources, establish new economies, and reduce CCP Games’ role in the game’s evolution.

“We want to provide a transparent survival ground where players can showcase their abilities,” Þórarinsson said. “This is a player-driven virtual world.”

Pétursson expects the economy to open in the next few quarters, with a potential token launch in the near future. However, it will take years before CCP Games fully steps back, leaving the economy entirely in the hands of players and smart contracts.

“This is a game-changer,” Pétursson said. “Not just for gaming, but for the world overall.”