Atari to publish EVE Online

Atari has announced that it will distribute boxed versions of Icelandic developer CCP’s popular MMO EVE Online.

The game will be available in retail outlets in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions from March 2009.

In addition, Atari will provide trade marketing services to augment CCP’s consumer marketing initiatives for EVE Online.

The boxed version of EVE Online will include the game client, 60 days of subscription time and exclusive extras.

At Atari we’re working to grow our relationships with the world’s leading online gaming companies and to use our distribution strength to help grow the category for both consumers and retailers. This relationship with CCP is an example of how we can work commercially and creatively to expand the market,” said David Gardner, CEO of Atari.

I have spent time with the creative and commercial leaders of CCP in Iceland and they have built a world class group of dedicated internet game visionaries. I’m honoured that Atari is entrusted with the mission of expanding the CCP universe on earth.”

Hilmar Veigar Petursson, CEO of CCP: Intrepid pioneering is the very foundation upon which EVE Online was built and our digital publishing strategy is an example of how innovation has been a key factor in our success. With Atari, we have found a like-minded partner and a premiere brand that is not only strong globally but also shares our vision in how retail and online services can reinforce each other.

This partnership comes at a great time in the history of EVE where, through a series of technical breakthroughs, we are able to support a vast increase in the number of concurrent players in our single shard persistent world.”