Fenris Creations is refining its vision for EVE Vanguard, the studio's ambitious attempt to bring on-the-ground FPS gameplay into the persistent universe of EVE Online. If you have been following the project since last year, the latest build—titled Operation Avalon—shows a clear shift in how our disposable warclones will operate on the surface of planets and manage their progression back on the Avalon station.
The Extraction Shooter Pivot
While the developers previously avoided the term, EVE Vanguard has fully leaned into the extraction shooter formula. The core gameplay loop remains consistent with the ruthless nature of the EVE universe: players beam down to a planet, scavenge for resources, and attempt to extract before being eliminated by rival players or Mordu's Legion NPCs.
There is no victory royale or closing circle here. Instead, the tension is baked into the mechanics. When looting a container, you are forced into a brief, vulnerable waiting period while items are revealed one by one. This forces players to consider sight lines and environmental safety before committing to a score, as snipers and other opportunistic players are a constant threat.
Progression and Industry
Operation Avalon introduces a handcrafted map featuring randomized elements and tiered points of interest. These zones are color-coded by difficulty; lower-level areas allow for safer, low-stakes scavenging, while high-level zones like the Command Block in the northwest require better gear and, potentially, keycards found elsewhere on the map.
Death carries the familiar weight of the EVE franchise. When your warclone falls, you lose your current loadout. However, the game emphasizes long-term growth through blueprints. By successfully extracting with resources and blueprints, you can manufacture replacements for lost weapons back in orbit. The new Chipset system further expands this, allowing players to craft equippable perks that modify optics, reload speeds, and weapon functionality, functioning much like a customizable class loadout.
Improved Feel and Future Integration
Feedback from previous playtests suggested that the game previously felt like a "floating gun" rather than a person. In this latest iteration, the warclones have been tuned to feel more agile and superhuman, but with a distinct sense of weight.
The biggest milestone, however, is still on the horizon. Fenris Creations is working toward a full 24/7 integration with EVE Online by the end of 2026. For now, those interested in seeing the current state of the project can jump into the Operation Avalon public playtest, which runs from July 7 through July 20.