Intro
This is the story of my journey to Reykjavik, Iceland, for EVE Fanfest in early May 2025. It was my second Fanfest—my first, back in 2023, turned into a massive five-part saga you can find here. This time, I decided to take a different approach: show more than tell. So instead of a blow-by-blow recap, I’ll briefly walk through the highlights and then share a photo gallery. I’ve split the journey into two parts—this post covers the Fanfest itself, and the next one will dive into my city explorations and unexpected discoveries.
Table of Contents
Speed Dating With Reykjavik
Despite arriving in the middle of the night (around 4 AM), I woke up early—no surprise there, as the program kicked off at noon with a visit to CCP Games headquarters at Gróska for press keynotes and a hands-on session with EVE Frontier.
That morning’s exploration was joyful enough that I decided to craft a separate post for those interested in Reykjavik’s architecture, districts, and the unique vibe of this “city of colors and freedom.” But for now, here are a few teaser photos.
The Minds Behind the Magic – CCP Headquarters Visit
As noon struck, a bus took me straight to the doors of a building with a mysterious name: Gróska. It’s a massive innovation hub, located on the grounds of the University of Iceland—a clever setup that brings together the minds of students and forward-thinking businesses. Same ground, everyone wins.
There, I listened to keynotes about EVE Vanguard, EVE Frontier, and the upcoming EVE Online expansion, Legion, presented by the project leads. There was a short Q&A session, but I mostly used the opportunity to mark my interview targets—the real interrogations would come later.
We also had a brief individual hands-on session with EVE Frontier, guided by one of CCP’s QA engineers. It began in a structured way, but as my explorer soul kicked in, I started breaking things—uncovering unexpected features (or bugs, depending on how you see it). At one point, the dev even pulled out a notepad and started writing down my feedback on the spot.
I might do a separate post about this new CCP crypto project, but overall, my first impressions were positive. The mechanics felt familiar right away. Sure, there were a few UI quirks, but it wasn’t a public-ready build—no surprise there.
That evening wrapped up with dinner at Fröken Reykjavík Kitchen & Bar. The dinner was so good, I nearly gathered the courage to pitch for another plate… but my inner introvert prevailed, and I stayed in my seat.
After dinner, I wandered into a few parties—one hosted by CCP Duckling, a Capsuleer Carnage: Metal Mayhem, and another Queeraoke at Kíkí Queer Bar. Fantastic experience, sadly, I couldn’t stay long. I had to be at full power the next day, and the night was already calling me to rest. I took a slow walk through the city under a light rain. Despite the cloud cover and the fact that it was 11:30 PM, the lighting was strong enough that I could probably read a book—a northern hemisphere perk.
When the Harpa Doors Open
It was an early morning—so early, in fact, that before the Fanfest even opened its doors to attendees, a group of us journalists made our way to the rooftop offices on Harpa’s top floor. For the next few days, this space would serve as our press center, complete with stunning views and steady coffee.
It was a pleasure to reconnect with many familiar faces. Roger Sieber from GAMES.CH, founder of Switzerland’s biggest gaming portal, but also a skilled photographer, so we always have plenty to talk about. I also ran into Joseph Bradford from MMORPG.com with whom we me met on a previous Fanfest and Brendan Drain from MassivelyOP. Brendan and I go back to 2019, when we first met during the EVE Invasion tour. He’s one of the few journalists, like me, who actively plays EVE Online for over two decades. So we were the two constantly reacting with amazement and giggling during dev announcements, knowing exactly what those changes meant. I truly enjoy discussing new content with him and sharing those first impressions. It’s even better knowing we’re both under NDA—so we can spill all the spicy details to each other without worrying about breaking the embargo. Just two space nerds in a cone of silence.
Of course, that’s not to say the other journalists aren’t professionals—they absolutely are. But most cover dozens of games each month. Logging 9000+ hours in a single MMO? That’s a rare luxury.
Soon, the main stage at Harpa called everyone in—and it filled fast. Every level of the balcony packed in. Big alliances and corporations waved their flags and banners, some recruiting, others trolling rival corps. Classic Fanfest energy.
The opening ceremony kicked off with a fantastic live music performance by Kristian Ross and Baldur Baldursson, both sound engineers and composers at CCP. (I wrote about them and the rest of the audio team in my previous Fanfest saga—check the roundtable recap.)
Then came the devs—welcome messages from team leads, including CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson. The segment included some fun trivia about attendees, in-game events, and other delightfully nerdy details. The following hours were packed with updates across the EVE universe: huge battles, economic shifts, meaningful changes, and yes—some real-world space insights too, thanks to NASA’s Dr. Ronald Turner (also known in-game as Fa’ile Callandor).
You can watch the full event recording here.
Game Meets Nation – Indies, Industry, and Shared Ground
One of the lesser-known but very cool parts of Fanfest 2025 was how CCP Games shared space with the broader Icelandic Gaming Industry (IGI). Alongside the EVE booths and panels, the venue also hosted six indie games from local studios. Some of them—like KARDS—were founded by former CCP developers, though they’re not affiliated with CCP today. Still, the collaboration clearly brings visibility and energy to Iceland’s indie scene.
Here’s what was on display for hands-on demos:
- Gang of Frogs – Aska Studios
- Dig In – Vitar Games
- Island of Winds – Parity
- KARDS – 1939 Games
- Pax Dei – Mainframe Industries
- Walk of Life – Porcelain Fortress
If any of those caught your eye, please wishlist them on Steam. It makes a real difference—helps the devs get funding, gain visibility, and eventually launch their games in a sea of titles competing for attention.
Panels and Unexpected Cheers
Meanwhile I returned to the press room (with a stunning view btw!), and processed to fulfill my duties: to interrogate… ops, I mean to interview developers. I talked with Scott Davis, who is leading the eve Vanguard – you can read my exclusive interview here. Then I met with Peter Farrell, also known as CCP Swift and we talked about upcoming Alliance tournament, the future of tournament tools for eve players and game challenges which are facing Eve Galaxy Conquest game community. I also handed him an open letter I had put together in collaboration with some formidable players—especially Gumi Aihaken, who’s just as passionate about the project’s future as I am.
Right after that, I rushed to the EVE Galaxy Conquest panel on the Kaldalón stage. I already knew that no one from the CCP Shanghai office—the actual developers of the game—would be attending Fanfest, as they were fully focused on shipping new content and the next season. So I was genuinely curious to see what would happen.
Turns out, a few devs (CCP Overweight, CCP 7-pack, and CCP Bjorn) decided to run the panel on their own initiative—mostly to gauge interest. They weren’t part of the EGC dev team but came from other departments at CCP’s Reykjavik office. The audience wasn’t huge—understandable, since Dr. Becky Smethurst was on the main stage at the same time talking about supermassive black holes (serious stuff). And let’s be honest, the EGC community is still growing. Even so, a couple dozen curious attendees showed up, some of them active players.
What really surprised me was that the panel organizers knew my blog—and had read my guides. They even recognized some of my alts from their corporation. So instead of a traditional panel, it quickly turned into a roundtable discussion. We talked about what’s working, what isn’t, and all the usual stuff I’ve already shared on this blog. Before leaving, they took my contact info and we agreed to stay in touch: me as a voice of the community, them as a link to internal channels and data sources. The idea was to shape feedback into something that could actually guide the project forward.
Sadly… no one ever followed up. Maybe something changed. Maybe they stopped playing. Who knows.
At 16:00, the main stage lit up again—this time for the big keynote with CCP Burger, CCP Rattati, and others. The new expansion was officially announced. I covered my highlights in a separate first impressions post (link), followed by two individual interviews: one with CCP Burger (link), and another with CCP Rattati (link).
Pub Crawl – The Fleet Invite
Later that evening, the main event (in my opinion) launched: the legendary Pub Crawl. For those unfamiliar, it’s a Fanfest tradition where developers (as hosts) and players form small gangs—in our case, 14 teams—and raid the bars of Reykjavik’s old town. Each pub stop lasts about 45 minutes before the fleet moves on, repeating this cycle several times until everyone reunites at Gamla Bíó, a large venue with a dance floor, music, and that end-of-night energy only Fanfest can generate.
Now, I’m usually more of a health-conscious, sporty type—but even so, this is hands down the most exciting moment of the whole EVE Fanfest. And no, you don’t need to drink to join in. A non-alcoholic beverage in hand and a good story to share is more than enough. You’ll hear amazing stories, share your own, and walk away with memories that last—both in and out of the game.
As I was walking through the crowd, someone suddenly shouted, “TEAM FOUR!” I turned—and there they were, a member from my old Pub Crawl gang. We stopped for a quick chat. That moment of recognition in a sea of people? It fills you with warmth and a sense of belonging. Even if you arrive at Fanfest as a loner, join the Pub Crawl and you’ll leave with a fleet.
This year, I was part of Team 11, led by the ever-energetic Greygal, who’s been organizing charity donation events for years, raising funds for Iceland’s Children’s Hospital. Anyhow, next year, I hope to see more familiar faces and o7 them in the hallways.
Stormbringer needs more Utility
Our team also included CCP Mirage—recognizable to anyone who’s watched EVE Pulse or the New Year’s recap videos. We chatted quite a bit about my nomadic Black Ops lifestyle, but the real highlight was our passionate argument that Stormbringers need a +1 utility high slot. Boi, that would open up so many new PvP and PvE possibilities. It’d also mean more work for catalysts and a livelier economy. Think about it: high-sec explorers get a solid alternative to Orthruses, Gilas, and Jackdaws. Gankers have fresh targets. EDENCOM sells more skillbooks. Manufacturers get more orders to fill. It’s a quadruple win.
#bringStormbringer2highslots!
UPDATE: Three months later in the September 2025 Legion patch, both the Stormbringer and Skybreaker received their extra utility high slot! 🎉
As I was squeezing through the dancefloor crowd, I spotted CCP CEO Hilmar himself—dancing with capsuleers, chatting, taking selfies. That level of direct connection with the community is something truly special. Later, during my interview with him, I mentioned that moment and asked, “Are you still having fun?” He burst out laughing.
With great sadness in my heart, I finally peeled myself away around 2 AM to get a few hours of sleep before the next packed day. On the way back to the hotel, I paused to take a few night shots of Reykjavik and the Harpa—one of those rare Icelandic moments where the sun is raising… at 2 in the morning.
The Final Fanfest Day Begins
Once my head hit the pillow, it felt like only a moment passed before my alarm screamed 7:30 AM. Time for my usual speedrun morning routine: 5 minutes of fitness to wake up the muscles, 5 minutes of toiletry, 5 minutes in the shower, 10 minutes for a hearty porridge (gotta fuel up for hauling a camera rig all day), and a final 5 minutes to get dressed and look halfway presentable.
By 8:00, I was back out on Reykjavik’s streets, ready to face another day of discoveries. This one was stacked with EVE Vanguard and EVE Online: Legion keynotes—each filled with devs revealing small but meaningful details to a audience full of fans.
As a player, I would’ve loved to sit through them all. But that’s the reality of being a solo blogger: you can’t be in two places at once. So I headed back to the press center to continue my interview marathon.
First up was an old friend, Attila Szantner. We talked about Project Discovery and how it’s evolving to support cancer research (link). After that, I interviewed CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson—our conversation focused mostly on the “invisible stuff,” like what it means to lead such a unique company for 25 years (link).
In between interviews, I was darting around with my camera, managing to record 15 mini-interviews with CCP devs. This was my second year doing interviews in that format, and it seems like people are really enjoying it. Link to watch!
I also bumped into a few fellow content creators from Just About, a community I’m part of. One was the streamer Brother Grimoire, and the other was the talented artist Rixx Javix. You’ve probably seen his award-winning EVE cinematics or art pieces floating around—and if not, go fix that. He’s also deeply involved in the Broadcast4Reps movement, which helps raise awareness and support for those dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. Oh, and did I mention he’s a notorious in-game pirate lord? He runs Stay Frosty [ST-FR], and his blog EVEOGANDA is a must-read for any true EVE fan.
Saga, Swords, and Sentiment – The Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony began in a familiar way—a short recap video titled “how it was,” a montage of photos, facts, and highlights on the big screen. The usual show, performed with charm by CCP Zelus and CCP Jotunn. Plenty of laughs, inside jokes, and good energy all around.
Next came the results of the charity donations supporting Barnaspítali Hringsins, Iceland’s Children’s Hospital—raised through the Pub Crawl, traditional donations, and the silent auction. This year’s total reached $13,097. It’s less than in 2023, but as I mentioned in my pre-Fanfest news post (link), this time donations were only accepted on-site—unlike last year, when people could contribute online. Still, it’s a meaningful sum, and one the hospital will no doubt put to good use.
CCP Hellmar and CCP Orca took the stage! What followed was a mix of gratitude, future plans, and the official announcement: the next Fanfest will return to Harpa, scheduled for May 14–16, 2026. Thank the stars—it’s just 12 months away, not another 18-month wait like last time.
And then it happened…
CCP Orca received her very real, very sharp sword—a tradition at CCP for those who’ve been with the company for 10 years. I’ll probably do a separate post just about these swords, because the lore behind them is just as wild as the tradition itself. Orca had to chop a melon with hers to prove its worth, and she pulled it off with style with a commentary ‘It works!’.
Moments later, CCP Hellmar drew his two-hander—awarded after 20 years of service—and sliced into another melon… and nearly the table it was sitting on. This was followed by a short story, delivered with that unmistakable Hilmar smirk: “I wanted a real sword. So I pitched the sword-gifting tradition to the board—right before I hit my own 10-year anniversary.” Classic.
On stage and during our interview, Hilmar also returned to one of his personal mantras: EVE Forever. It’s not just a slogan—it’s become a mission statement, or even a viking’s battle cry.
And now, they’re taking it a step further.
To immortalize EVE’s legacy—just like the EVE Monument with all our names—they’ve invited a real Icelandic poet to write an epic saga about EVE Online. Yes, a literal saga. The first four lines were revealed on stage:
Listen thou shalt to the tales of EVE
The coming of Titans and the birth of Steve
The mining of rocks, the cloud, the moons
The battles of Brothers, Badgers and Goons
But this won’t just be text on paper. Hilmar wants to do it properly—like the sagas of old. Special leather parchment has already been commissioned. And the ink? Well… it will include blood. Players’ blood.
The plan is to run a voluntary blood donation campaign at the next Fanfest, keeping a tiny drop from each donor. These drops will be mixed into a special ink. That means this saga will be written—literally—with the DNA of capsuleers.
I’m not sure if Hilmar ran this idea with CCP’s legal team, but honestly, this kind of madness (in a good meaning) can only happen in Iceland. The crowd roared! And me? I’m ready to sign any waiver they want. Count me in!
Dancing with Devs – Night at the Top
Tonight, the Harpa wasn’t hosting a classical orchestra or opera singers—far from it. The halls were filled with pulsing electronic beats and high energy. The evening opened with a performance by an electronic trio: Kristian Ross, Baldur Jóhann Baldursson, and CCP ZOND3. That was followed by CCP’s very own in-house band, Crowd Kon7rol, and wrapped up with the headliner: the ever-eclectic FM Belfast.
The place was buzzing—laughter, drinks, hugs, and who knows, maybe even a few alliances being forged under the neon lights. Between sets, you could hear snippets of conversation about the new expansion, fresh ships, and wild theories about what’s coming next.
I used the opportunity to catch up with people I knew, stopping for quick chats and squeezing in a few more fast video interviews. But my alarm was set for 7:30 AM again—my final day had one last stop: the lagoon. So, at midnight, I pulled myself away and headed out. The rest weren’t in a hurry. Many wandered off into Reykjavik’s old town, continuing the party deep into the night.
Sea and Sky – The Lagoon Epilogue
This part started with a panic sprint.
I was supposed to be packed and downstairs by 9:15. But after three nights of minimal sleep, I completely slept through my 7:15 alarm and woke up at 8:55. What followed was probably my fastest sequence of packing, toothbrushing, and breakfast-eating ever. Miraculously, I made it.
CCP had arranged early access to the Sky Lagoon just for Fanfest guests—half an hour before regular opening—so for a little while, the place belonged to us alone. This was my second time visiting, and wow, they’ve really upgraded it. The ritual of the seven cleansing steps—a sequence of cold mist, hot saunas, and thermal baths—now includes new rooms. The changing and shower areas have also been made more private and comfortable, though they’re still mixed-gender, which might be a bit confusing for first-timers.
But once you’re in… warm water, cold wind, maybe even light rain, waves crashing beyond the edge, and a roaring waterfall—it’s surreal. The kind of experience that makes time slow down. And no, this isn’t just marketing fluff. If you’re anywhere near Reykjavik, whether for Fanfest or otherwise, you owe it to yourself to go. You won’t regret it.
After the lagoon, we headed to Perlan—the Icelandic nature museum—for a lunch served in its hilltop rotating dome restaurant. That’s where I met Gunnhildur Ásta Guðmundsdóttir, Manager of Innovation & Technology at Íslandsstofa (the Business Iceland association), who helped arrange the meal. We ended up talking about all kinds of things.
What really impressed me was how seamlessly Iceland’s government, local businesses, and the gaming industry collaborate to support each other. It’s a rare example of creative industries and public initiatives coming together—and working.
Once we were done with a lunch, part of the press team went straight to the airport, but since my flight was scheduled at midnight, I had few more hours, which I used to explore the city more. I decided to return to the hotel by foot, after all it was around 5 kilometers, I also decided to make a small round and visit the local forest park, central cathedral and then Sun Voyager sculpture. But I will include more details about it my second post about the city.
Eve Fanfest 2025 – Warping Off
Before you dive into the photo gallery, I have a few closing words.
Every Fanfest is a unique journey for me—full of emotions, unexpected connections, and new things to learn about the game, the people behind it, and the country that hosts it all. Just like EVE Online itself, Fanfest feels like a long-term relationship. The game’s sandbox nature means there’s always someone out there whose path crosses with yours. Maybe they’ve been part of your journey, heard of your corp, or fought beside—or against—you. Those shared stories bridge the distance. That’s when the friendship machine spins up.
Next time, I plan to take a few extra days—arrive earlier, explore more of Iceland’s wild beauty, and maybe even bring my family along. There’s even a program designed for those who don’t play EVE themselves—the Sisters of EVE tour—offering sightseeing trips to Iceland’s natural and cultural landmarks. A thoughtful touch that shows how far this event has grown.
So if you’re still on the fence, don’t be silly like I was—waiting two decades for my first visit. Get the tickets while they’re still cheap. No, this isn’t an affiliate link. I’m not earning anything—this is just me, wanting to share an amazing experience and help keep this tradition going.
Take a look at the photo gallery—maybe you’ll spot yourself there. And if you attended this or any previous EVE Fanfest, I’d love to hear what your most memorable moment was. Drop a comment—I really want to hear your story too.
If this story earned a +1 to standing, toss me a Quafe Zero… or, you know, a coffee!
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