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From the Game Developers Conference in Cologne, Germany comes the announcement from CCP Games as to what DUST 514 is.  Made during a keynote address by CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson, it's a console-based hybrid MMO/FPS set in the EvE universe.

“We launched EVE Online in 2003 and have experienced steady annual growth– a fact we appreciate as a rarity in the world of MMOs, especially given the global economy of the past year,” said Petursson. “Our success with EVE Online has afforded us the highest caliber global design and production talent in gaming. With a team of the best minds in the industry, we conceived an ambitious new take on virtual world development with DUST 514.”

DUST 514 has first-person shooter and RTS-style gameplay that will interact directly with EvE Online.  The primary gameplay is ground combat that takes place on the surface planets of EvE.  It will feature strategic planning and will give commanders and infantry real-time configurable weapons as well as modular vehicles to take into battle.

DUST 514 has been in development by CCP's Shanghai studio and has been in the works for three years.  The team has veteran designers of EvE Online and other talent from the video game industry. “Since opening our Shanghai studio, we have invested in building a team that wants to push the envelope in gaming and be pioneers in the industry,” said Kjartan Pierre Emilsson, Managing Director of CCP Shanghai. “Having led the design and development efforts of the project from start to finish, our studio is honored to call DUST 514 our first title release.”

More details on it will be released at Fanfest on October 1st thru 3rd in Reykjavik, Iceland.