Why the Creators of EVE Online Just Renamed Themselves “Fenris Creations”
Fenris Creations: The $120 Million Rebirth of the EVE Online Studio
In a massive industry shift reported by GamesIndustry.biz on May 7, 2026, the Icelandic developer formerly known as CCP Games has officially rebranded as Fenris Creations. The move follows a management buyout from South Korean publisher Pearl Abyss and marks the beginning of a new, independent era for the 29-year-old studio.
The “Brand Collision” with the CCP
The most striking reason for the rebrand is the growing confusion between the studio’s acronym (Crowd Control Productions / CCP) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
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The Conflict: CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson explained that the confusion had escalated from a minor online mix-up to a legitimate business hurdle.
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Real-World Impact: Pétursson noted that employees were being questioned by U.S. border officials about the company’s name and that mainstream news reporters were frequently referring to them as “the other CCP.”
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The Quote: “It’s a fight I’m not going to fight. I’m not going to fight the Chinese Communist Party over who is the CCP,” Pétursson told GamesIndustry.biz.
Why “Fenris Creations”?
The new name is a deep cut into the company’s own history and Icelandic roots:
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Norse Mythology: Fenris (or Fenrir) is the monstrous wolf of Norse myth, symbolizing destruction and the breaking of chains.
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Legacy Reference: The company’s very first published board game in 1998 carried the “Fenris” name on the box.
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The EVE Philosophy: The name reflects the “serious matter” of death and destruction in EVE Online, where the loss of a ship has real economic and emotional consequences.
The Google DeepMind Partnership
The rebrand isn’t the only big news. Along with independence, Fenris Creations has entered a high-level research partnership with Google DeepMind:
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Minority Stake: Google has acquired a minority share in the studio as part of the transition.
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AI Laboratory: DeepMind will use an offline version of EVE Online to study “long-horizon planning” and “complex social intelligence.” Because EVE has a player-driven economy and no fixed end-state, it is considered the perfect simulation for training advanced AI models.
Status of the Studio (May 2026)
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Ownership: Sold back to management for $120 million (mix of cash and cryptocurrency).
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Stability: No layoffs or restructuring are planned. Headquarters remain in Reykjavík, with satellite offices in London and Shanghai continuing operations.
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Upcoming Projects: Development continues on EVE Vanguard (FPS) and EVE Frontier (Space Survival), alongside the ongoing support for the main EVE Online universe.