EVE Online Incarna content "definitely not shelved"

EVE Online's controversial on-foot gameplay plans will make a return someday, but for now, CCP is leaving well enough alone.

"When we introduced the idea, we had grand visions of what it might be and we'd expressed that in various ways throughout the year," CCP's Ned Coker told PCGamesN of the touted on-foot gameplay expansion plans.

"Then technology and complications became hard realities for us. We aimed pretty high and we met many of our goals, but not many of our gameplay goals. It really became more of a single player experience."

The resulting content wasn't particularly well received, to say the least; whether that's because it didn't deliver on CCP's original grand visions for the tech or simply because it didn't provide what players wanted is debatable.

"As a platform it still works out really well for us, but based off player feedback we took a step back from our Incarna full development plan," Coker added.

"Incarna and avatar gameplay is definitely not shelved indefinitely, it's just not being worked on actively in full production right now."

CCP has prototyped some versions of on-foot gameplay which may fit better with the community's expectations, including exploring derelict spaceships.

"We've had a team doing prototype work on the 'walking in stations' idea, that sort of Incarna gameplay. They've done a couple of iterations on what that might be, with the 'EVE-ness' of it in mind. So you know, things like risk and reward, multiplayer action, stuff like that," Coker said.