Fans did not take to it
Back in April of 2016,Project Nova, CCP’s second foray into theEVE Online-related shooter genre,looked like a healthy, vibrant game….at least on paper.
As Jean-Charles Gaudechon, managing director at CCP Shanghai explains it, “We took a lot of feedback from fans, and I mean a lot of feedback, and we faced some harsh realities.” Feedback it seems that the developer is taking to heart, as they’removing the production ofNovato their Reykjavík Iceland headquarters.
“For years, it’s always been the dream from both CCP and fans to have a boots on the groundEVEgame,” Gaudechon explains. “Because ofNovasome of our staff is even moving to Iceland to make this a reality. We want it to happen and won’t give up just yet.” That makes sense, given that CCP eventually did give up onDust 514, their ill-fated PS3 shooter thatalsotried to bring ground fights to theEVEuniverse.
When I asked about howDustimpacted the direction ofNova, Gaudechon looked a lot less glum than I expected him to. “The chief lesson we learned is that we need to make a good shooter first, then anEVEgame second. We need to be more humble this time around and not reach for the stars. If we do launchNova, odds are it won’t be directly linked toEVE Online…at least, not initially.”
That’s about all I could pry out of him. CCP isn’t saying much aboutProject Novaright now, but I hope we get to see it next year — even if it needs to go back into the hopper for a second time.
