EVE Vanguard Alpha: Fenris Creations’ Extraction Shooter Shakes Up New Eden’s Orbit

Greetings, spacefarers and pixel pioneers! Your friendly neighborhood Nerd Bureau journalist just returned from the frontiers of New Eden, having had a third exhilarating run with EVE Vanguard. Fenris Creations’ upcoming extraction shooter, the highly anticipated “little brother” to EVE Online, is really hitting its stride in the current alpha playtest, Operation Avalon.

For those with long memories, you might recall the ambitious but ill-fated Dust 514 from back in 2013. CCP Games (now Fenris Creations) had a vision for an FPS deeply tied to their legendary galactic economy MMO. While Dust 514’s PS3 exclusivity clipped its wings, Fenris’ London office is keeping that dream alive, evolving it into something truly special with Vanguard.

The core promise? Imagine an extraction shooter where your boots-on-the-ground actions directly impact the vast, player-driven universe of EVE Online. Picture the emergent, ongoing narratives of Helldivers, but powered by the relentless political machinations and economic warfare of EVE’s player corporations and alliances.

Game director Scott Davis shared their ambitious goal at EVE Fanfest: to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. He notes that EVE Online’s lead designers see themselves as “caretakers,” not “dungeon masters.” The team is excited by the prospect of players completely snowballing a campaign for one empire – because, as he put it, “that’d be f***ing cool.”

First Drop Impressions: Action Over Axioms

What’s immediately concrete, and frankly, delightful, is that Vanguard is a genuinely good FPS. It surprised me with sharp, interesting design choices that help it stand tall, even without its colossal MMO sibling.

Here’s what stood out:

• Instant Immersion: Unlike some modern shooters that bog you down with tutorials, Vanguard throws you straight into the fray. Deployment from your “war barge” menu is immediate – no fuss, just action.

• Streamlined Entry: Despite a plethora of upgrades and materials, the game doesn’t demand you master every “nerd shit” sub-menu upfront. It’s almost as if it’s saying, “Go shoot stuff first, optimize later.”

• Organic Exploration: Early objectives are refreshingly simple: kill enemies, loot boxes. This low-pressure entry encourages natural exploration of the lone alpha map, leading to genuinely special discoveries like lucrative, enemy-filled towers.

• Player Agency: While part of me initially craved more directed encounters, the “go figure it out” approach fosters a unique sense of accomplishment. Stumbling upon a cool, high-value target feels incredibly rewarding.

My first deployment was short-lived, courtesy of another player, leaving me with a “poop tier” loaner rifle. But even then, the core gunplay felt tight and responsive, a strong foundation for what’s to come.

The Future Orbiting New Eden

While full cross-game integration remains largely theoretical, Operation Avalon is making its first “furtive steps” with a concurrent EVE Online event. Fenris Creations has a track record of delivering on ambitious, unique promises, giving us every reason to believe in Vanguard’s long-term vision.

This isn’t just another extraction shooter; it’s a bold attempt to weave player-driven narratives from two distinct genres into a singular, evolving sci-fi saga. Vanguard is shaping up to be a compelling experience that’s more than the sum of its parts.

Amplo Insights

EVE Vanguard isn’t just riding on the coattails of EVE Online’s legacy; it’s carving out its own identity as a fast-paced, player-centric extraction shooter. The immediate action and emergent gameplay are incredibly promising, and if Fenris can truly nail the cross-game integration, we’re looking at a genre-defining title. Get ready to drop, pilots – New Eden’s ground game just got real interesting.

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