CCP Games has released the Legion major update for EVE Online, bringing sweeping changes to the long-running space MMO while setting the stage for Operation Nemesis, the first cross-title event in the EVE Universe. Together, the update and event mark one of the most ambitious evolutions of New Eden, bridging ground and space gameplay between EVE Online and EVE Vanguard in a way that gives both Capsuleers and Warclones lasting influence over the galaxy, according to a press release.
The Legion update focuses on expanding the sandbox through new mechanics, balance passes, and systems designed directly from community feedback. Ship balance has been overhauled, with previously underutilized hulls revitalized and armor-focused vessels strengthened. The goal is to shake up entrenched strategies and encourage new approaches to combat. Exploration has also grown deeper with more wormhole connections and significant changes to the Encounter Surveillance System, renewing opportunities for small-scale play and rewarding those who thrive on venturing into the unknown.
Freelancers gain new ways to take risks with the introduction of the “Destroy Capsuleer” project type, opening the door to player-run bounty boards and mercenary-style contracts supported by ESI integration. Quality-of-life features range from a free time-limited character resculpt token to revised requirements for joining pirate factions like the Angel Cartel and Guristas, ensuring more flexibility in how players express themselves.
Operation Nemesis begins September 16 and runs through October 2, tasking both Capsuleers and Warclones with uncovering secrets that tie the two games together. In EVE Vanguard, Warclones complete assignments and expeditions that reveal high-value convoys across EVE Online’s space. Once identified, these convoys become live opportunities for Capsuleers to intercept and raid, creating high-stakes battles where rival factions race to secure loot before others arrive. Rewards include SKINs, Trade Tokens, implants, and even the possibility of PLEX, EVE Online’s premium currency, adding meaningful incentives to take part.
The operation emphasizes consequence across both titles, as actions taken planetside can directly alter opportunities in orbit. With Upwell defenses, Mordu’s Legion forces, and other obstacles standing in the way, neither side of the fight comes easy. But by linking economies and gameplay loops across two separate games, Operation Nemesis delivers on CCP’s vision of a fully interconnected EVE Universe.
For CCP, the update represents a step toward its long-term vision of “EVE Forever,” one that rewards the creativity and investment of its community. The company highlights Legion as an update shaped by Capsuleer feedback, while Nemesis embodies the ambition to unite multiple titles under one evolving science fiction universe. With these two additions, New Eden continues to stand as one of gaming’s most unique and persistent sandboxes, where the actions of players carry weight across years and now, for the first time, across games.
EVE Online: Legion is available now, with Operation Nemesis running from September 16 to October 2.