CCP Games today launched EVE Online: Catalyst, the next expansion for the iconic sci-fi MMO, EVE Online. Mining has powered EVE Online’s player-driven economy for over 20 years; every ship, trade, and conflict begins with ore. This foundation-shaping expansion introduces sweeping updates to mining, exploration, and interstellar navigation, making it one of the most accessible EVE Online experiences to date.

“Our goal is to equip capsuleers with tools that allow them to create and innovate in ways we can’t predict, and Catalyst is designed for exactly that. It is one of the most welcoming expansions in EVE Online’s history,” said Snorri Árnason, EVE Online’s Executive Producer. “Anyone can learn the ropes of mining through the new epic arc. It’s an approachable entry point for rookie pilots and returning veterans alike, designed to ensure EVE Online remains smooth and engaging for everyone.”

“With Catalyst, collaboration intertwines with conflict, making mining more immersive and dynamic than ever,” said Bergur Finnbogason, EVE Online’s Creative Director. “Hyperspace fractures, prismaticite, and the opportunity to land critical hits mean each mining expedition offers higher stakes, higher rewards, and, of course, the potential to become a battleground. Capsuleers will need to proceed with caution and utilize industrial command vessels, including the mighty Rorqual, to survive the resource rush.”

Mysterious hyperspace fractures rich in prismaticite, a powerful new ore, are forming in waves, igniting a resource rush across New Eden. Capsuleers eager to recover as much prismaticite as possible must brave lucrative phase field sites in low and null sec space before the sites collapse – or before rival capsuleers arrive to fight for it.

With the new epic arc, players can enjoy a story-driven adventure that introduces the expansion’s systems and rewards in an easily understandable format. Upon completion, capsuleers receive the Pioneer mining destroyer and gain a better grasp of EVE Online’s mining ecosystem, empowering players to make confident choices while mining.

Watch the Catalyst expansion trailer on YouTube. Key highlights of this expansion include:

* Hyperspace Fractures and Prismaticite: Discover volatile, time-limited fractures to locate Phased Asteroids rich in prismaticite, a new erratic ore type. Players can test their luck with random reprocessing or choose a different base mineral for prismaticite to reprocess into, giving them increased agency for fueling the mining industry and impacting EVE Online’s player-driven economy.

*‘Pioneer’ Mining Destroyer: The first of its kind, bridging the gap between mining frigates and barges. Designed for accessibility, this ship can be piloted by Alpha clones and upgraded by Omegas, offering an accessible gateway to EVE Online’s industrial gameplay.

* ‘Odysseus’ Exploration Command Ship: Explorationists can take advantage of the hotly anticipated Odysseus, a long-range vessel built for deep-space ventures with a unique expedition hold. With the ability to warp while cloaked and a built-in maintenance bay, the Odysseus enables explorers to lead extended missions into uncharted regions for stellar treasures.

* Mining UX Enhancements: Mining cycles are faster and more enveloping with a refreshed scanning overlay. The addition of real-time data and color-coded readouts enables pilots to determine the value of encountered asteroids quickly.

* 2D Map: Leveraging a clean, node-based layout, the eagerly awaited new 2D map provides players with a variety of ways to view New Eden while feeling familiar and recognizable. Group stars by constellation or region, use arrow indicators to follow regional jumps, and toggle a ship’s jump-range visualization on or off as needed.*Map UI Overhaul: Customize the look and feel of both the 2D and 3D maps for rapid data visualization. Apply the new mining filter category to help discover ore across belts and nearby anomalies.

* Mining Mutaplasmids and Critical Hits: New customization and chance-based yield spikes make resource extraction more unpredictable, engaging, and rewarding.
* PLEX Transaction Logs: Personal PLEX transaction histories introduce transparency to the in-game economy.

EVE Online: Catalyst’s comprehensive additions and changes transform the way capsuleers collaborate, compete, and profit. Each mining operation can become a strategic flashpoint in New Eden’s robust economy – control the ore and control it all.

To celebrate Catalyst’s launch, CCP Games is broadcasting an EVE Online stream live on Twitch from inside a lava cave, deep within Iceland’s volcanic terrain, on November 19, 2025, at 19:30 UTC. Set inside Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel, located within the Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system, this underground experience seamlessly blends spectacle with storytelling. With the Catalyst expansion centered on the foundations of EVE – mining, transformation, and building from the ground up – streaming from inside volcanic rock is a literal expression of the expansion’s spirit: “All of this from a rock.”

Play Eve Online for free at eveonline.com.

Tags | ccp, mmorpg, sci-fi