In a move that’s as audacious as the game itself, CCP Games, the creators of EVE Online, have announced a chillingly literal way to immortalize the 22-year history of their spacefaring MMO.
At Fanfest 2026 in Reykjavik, Iceland, the studio plans to collect blood from volunteer players to create a "Foundational Poem" chronicling the epic battles, betrayals, and triumphs of New Eden. This isn’t just a gimmick — it’s a bold statement about legacy, community, and the raw, visceral connection between EVE Online and its players.
The project, first revealed at Fanfest 2025, draws inspiration from Iceland’s ancient sagas, which were often written on calfskin with ink made from natural materials.
But CCP is taking it a step further: the vellum for this poem will be grown from stem cells, not sourced from living animals, and the ink will be made from the blood of EVE Online’s own capsuleers.
CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson explained the vision in an interview with MMORPG.com, emphasizing the permanence of such a medium: “It turns out, to store information, a really good way is to take blood and write on calfskin. People in Iceland were doing this 1,000 years ago, and you still have the books.”
For a game that prides itself on its mantra of “EVE Forever,” this method ensures that New Eden’s legacy outlives its creators and players alike.
The blood drive at Fanfest 2026, set for May, will be a dual-purpose endeavor. Most of the blood donated by attendees will go to the National Blood Bank of Iceland, supporting a charitable cause. However, a small portion will be reserved to create the ink for the Foundational Poem.
CCP has teased a theatrical twist — phlebotomists might even cosplay as EVE Online’s infamous Blood Raiders faction while collecting donations, adding a layer of in-game lore to the real-world event.
The poem itself, edited by Icelandic writer Andri Snær Magnason, will draw from global poetic traditions to capture iconic moments in EVE’s history, from the record-shattering Bloodbath of B-R5RB to the betrayals that have defined its player-driven narrative.
The manuscripts will be crafted by an expert with a storied pedigree, previously commissioned by the Vatican and the British Empire to create illuminated texts. This master will produce three archival copies of the poem, one of which will be displayed in Iceland alongside the nation’s own historical sagas.
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The other two locations remain undecided but are intended to ensure redundancy, reflecting CCP’s commitment to preserving EVE’s legacy across the globe. For those who prefer a less macabre keepsake, CCP will also sell standard editions of the poem, free of flesh and blood.
This project is as insane as it is captivating—a fitting tribute to a game where players have spilled virtual blood in massive wars and intricate scams for over two decades.
It’s a bloody, dramatic spectacle that mirrors the unapologetic intensity of EVE Online itself. Capsuleers willing to contribute their lifeblood to this historic endeavor have a year to prepare.
As posts on X reflect, the community is buzzing with a mix of awe and morbid fascination at the idea of their plasma etching MMO history into parchment. Whether you find it grotesque or poetic, one thing is certain: EVE Online continues to push boundaries, both in-game and out.
