split image of most concurrent participants in a multiplayer videogame PvP battle

For those that play multiplayer videogames, October 6 2020 was a day that saw the word 'awesome' finally get used appropriately. 

On this day, the space-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EVE Online broke two Guinness World Records titles, the largest multiplayer videogame PvP battle and the most concurrent participants in a multiplayer videogame PvP battle

The epic battle saw 8,825 players taking part overall and 6,557 playing concurrently at its peak. 

close up of the most concurrent participants in a multiplayer videogame PvP battle

EVE Online (developed by CCP Games, based in Reykjavík, Iceland) is renowned for its large-scale conflicts and the game has seen record-breaking encounters for largest battle and most concurrent players multiple times; they were previously set during 2014’s "Bloodbath of B-R5RB" and in 2018’s "Siege of 9-4RP2" respectively. 

When looking at screenshots of these battles, they invoke a combination of the majesty of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the chaos of a Star Wars Death Star assault. 

This latest battle, aptly named "Fury at FWST-8", saw a coalition named PAPI attempt to establish a beachhead Keepstar that would allow them to strike deeper into the Imperium's territory with their force of supercapital ships. 

To prevent this, the Imperium fought for 14 hours to push PAPI forces back and destroy the Keepstar. 

large ship getting hit with bursts of flames

As a result, 6,746 ships (plus one Keepstar Upwell Structure) were destroyed, 362 capital-class ships were lost, with the total cost of the battle coming to 1.443 trillion ISK (equating to $18,712 USD).

EVE Online is no stranger to massive in-game conflicts. Every time a big battle breaks out or our community comes together for a cause, it’s always a sight to behold,” said Hilmar V. Pétursson, CCP Games’ CEO. 

“CCP may have created EVE Online, but it’s our community who built the universe of New Eden. Their ingenuity created the impressive logistics networks, both in-game and in the real-world, to field such a high-volume ships in one battle. Our players deserve all the credit that made these record-breaking achievements possible. Their support and dedication are what makes EVE Online the game that it is today.”

ships shooting in the most concurrent participants in a multiplayer videogame PvP battle

EVE Online is not all about Game of Thrones-like power struggles across the gulf of space. 

The persistent online galaxy also features players that are happy to simply trek across the stars, instead. 

Last year saw intrepid space-explorer Ethan Richards aka Katia Sae (USA) become the first person to explore all reachable systems in EVE Online without a single combat loss, a feat that was almost ten years in the making. 

space explorer Ethan Richards aka Katia Sae

From 1 December 2009 to 9 March 2019 Katia charted all 7,805 reachable solar systems in the New Eden galaxy without getting into any serious conflicts.

Check out the official CCP Games press release.

For more information about the battle "Fury at FWST-8", including the roles of different players, reactions and the lasting impact of the battle on the persistent game galaxy of New Eden, head over to the EVE Online community page.