What you need to know
- CCP Games has announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring support for Excel as an add-in to their MMO EVE Online.
- The add in is the first of its kind for a video game.
- CCP Games hopes that the addition of Excel will bridge the accessibility gap for players who want to keep track of stats and data in the massive game.
- EVE Online is free to play and CCP Games are celebrating the game’s 20th anniversary throughout 2023.
This year Icelandic based development studio CCP Games is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their massive and popular MMO, EVE Online. As part of the celebration, CCP Games has announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring add-in support for Microsoft Excel to EVE Online. This partnership marks a first for the video game industry, and CCP Games hopes that the add-in will transform the way players analyze and visualize the data they collect in game resulting in new strategies and experiences.
The add-in for EVE Online was developed in collaboration between CCP Games and the Excel team at Microsoft, including in-house capsuleers who proved to be invaluable to the project. The Excel add-in will provide valuable in-game data to players via a fluid and seamless UI that integrates perfectly with Excel. Players will be able to use that valuable information to adjust their in-game strategy dynamically which will change the tides of war when it comes to managing frontline warfare, maximizing profits, and ultimately taking over space itself.
Collaborating with Microsoft to provide EVE players with direct access to Excel’s best-in-class spreadsheet software tools has been both a very enjoyable experience and a very natural fit, which should come as no surprise to the data enthusiasts at our two companies and within our respective communities. Our players continue to encourage us to explore more ways to make EVE approachable. Advanced EVE players are known to use spreadsheets as a data management tool, so the Excel add-in is a crucial step in achieving that goal. No matter your role, skill level or identity in New Eden, the power of this add-in is at your fingertips.
Bergur Finnbogason, creative director
The world of EVE Online is incredibly competitive, and the players of that world already know that good data that is easy to read and analyze can make or break your strategy. Many competitive players already use spreadsheets to gain insight into their in-game activities already, but the inclusion of the Excel add-in will further maximize the way players can interact with the information. Players can expect the add-in to affect daily productivity in a variety of ways depending on the playstyle with which they approach the MMO.
- Manufacturers: Enhance production efficiency, identify profit margins, and uncover business opportunities.
- Miners: Make informed decisions about mining operations and optimize profits by calculating the value of mined asteroids.
- Haulers: Streamline cargo volume determination, assess cargo value, and maximize transportation profits.
- Enforcers: Keep track of bounties, mission rewards, and hourly earnings to identify the most lucrative activities.
- Explorers: Track earnings, item collection, and progression in the vast universe of New Eden.
- PvP Combatants: Monitor kills, losses, loot value, ship usage, and the outcomes of encounters.
- Corporation Leaders: Gain essential insights into member activity, roles, finances, and standings.
- All Players: Understand in-game actions and track progress over time with an aggregate overview of all character assets.
While the Excel add-in for EVE Online may be the first of its kind, Microsoft and CCP Games have previously partnered together to create a JavaScript API that allowed players to export their data from EVE Online into Excel.
If you would like to try out the EVE Online x Excel collaboration, you can do so by downloading the game for free from the EVE Online website. EVE Online is currently only available for PC.
