Capsuleers, 

Something is shifting in the fabric of New Eden and Anoikis. Strange changes are beginning to make themselves felt, their cause still unclear, and even the technology capsuleers have relied on for years is struggling to keep pace. 

The Cradle of War Major Update arrives on 22 September, bringing upheaval to some long-established parts of life in New Eden. Ansiblex jump bridges are changing significantly, introducing new limits on how alliances project their forces across nullsec. Pirate Insurgencies will become faster and more dynamic, Class 1 to Class 3 wormhole combat sites are being modernized, and further changes are coming to Pochven, ship balance, and more. 

Many of these changes have been informed directly by constructive feedback from capsuleers, including conversations with the Council of Stellar Management (CSM), Factional Warfare Parliament, Wormhole UN, and other communities across New Eden. 

A New Era for Force Projection 

As strange shifts continue to affect space across New Eden, Upwell engineers have been forced to adapt one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in nullsec. Ansiblex jump bridges will now operate using a capacitor system, changing how alliances can move fleets, and how far they can effectively project from the heart of their territory. 

Each Ansiblex will hold a limited capacitor charge that recharges slowly over time. Every ship passing through the bridge consumes some of that charge, with different ship types carrying different capacitor costs. Once the available charge has been depleted, further traffic will have to wait, while the Ansiblex replenishes its charge. 

Distance matters as well. The capacitor cost of using an Ansiblex increases according to how far the destination sits from the owning alliance’s capital system. Moving forces outward toward the edges of an alliance’s reach becomes progressively more expensive, while returning toward its center costs considerably less. 

Together, these changes introduce a practical operating range for Ansiblex networks. Alliances can still hold and operate across extensive territory, but rapidly moving large fleets across that territory will require more consideration. Fleet composition, distance, available capacitor charge, and the location of an alliance’s capital system will all play a part. 

Access to the network is also becoming more restricted. Ansiblexes will carry subcapital ships, and their use will be limited to capsuleers belonging to the alliance that owns them. Coalition allies will therefore need to rely on their own infrastructure or other methods of travel. 

Force projection has been a major topic of discussion in the EVE community for years, particularly for smaller alliances and roaming groups that can find themselves facing fleets mobilized from considerable distances. These changes make the reach of an Ansiblex network easier to anticipate, giving those groups more information about what may be able to reach them, from where, and in what numbers. 

For established nullsec powers, meanwhile, the geography of an alliance and the layout of its infrastructure will carry more weight. The familiar map remains, but the distances across it are about to matter more. 

This is an important step in ongoing work around force projection and sovereignty, with further adjustments planned in future updates. 

Insurgencies Intensify 

Pirate Insurgencies are also changing, with shorter conflicts, faster expansion, and greater control over how corruption spreads from system to system. 

Capsuleers pushing corruption will have more opportunity to decide where an Insurgency goes next. Concentrate efforts on a particular system, push toward highsec, or use the geography of the warzone to close off important routes. Those fighting to suppress an Insurgency will have greater influence over its direction too, creating a more active contest over where the fighting moves next. 

Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) are receiving changes to their reinforcement cycle as part of that shift. The cycle will be shorter, encouraging fleets to contest and ultimately destroy the FOB rather than keeping it in reinforcement while surrounding sites remain active. 

Rewards are changing alongside this. Payouts for the Ice Refinery Heist and Mining Op Ambush sites will be reduced, while a greater share of the overall rewards will come from winning the Insurgency itself, putting more emphasis on pushing the conflict toward a conclusion. 

There will also be a new battlefield to contest. A new site aimed at battlecruisers will begin appearing in Insurgency systems at corruption stage two and above. Based on the battlecruiser Factional Warfare site introduced with Cradle of War, it includes the same powerful battlecruiser bonus, giving pilots attributes equivalent to another skill level while inside the site. 

These changes have been shaped in part by extensive feedback from the FW Parliament community and the CSM, as Pirate Insurgencies continue to evolve around the way capsuleers actually engage with them. 

New Life in Wormhole Space 

Class 1 to Class 3 wormhole combat sites are getting a comprehensive overhaul, bringing some of the oldest PvE encounters in Anoikis closer to modern EVE Online standards. 

NPC behavior is being updated across these sites, including more intelligent use of electronic warfare and the ability for capsuleers to use energy neutralization against their opponents. Objectives will now appear through the info panel, giving pilots clearer information about their progress through an encounter. 

The sites themselves are also being cleaned up visually. Outdated asteroids will be replaced by newer models, while the recurring pop-up that currently appears when warping into these sites will be replaced by a one-time transmission. 

This modernization begins with Class 1 to Class 3 sites, and feedback from the pilots flying these sites will help inform how combat sites elsewhere in Anoikis evolve from here. 

The Rampant Drone Fabricator Pays Better 

Over the summer, the Rampant Drone Fabricator was introduced to wormhole space, and we've been amazed at the creativity you have shown, from the first group to best level 100, the tactics you're employing to master speed-runs, and even the amazing stories of fights breaking out in these sites. A few changes are coming based on your feedback to keep them rewarding and fun! 

After the major update, these sites will provide more Fabricator Data, while the Pochven Loyalty Point (LP) Store will begin accepting that data in exchange for new rewards. 

Among them are four new mutaplasmids for drone support modules that previously had no corresponding mutaplasmids, creating new opportunities to experiment with those modules. A new Hybrid Drone skill book will also be available exclusively through the Pochven LP Store, granting hybrid drones a 3% damage bonus per level and allowing trained drone pilots to push their performance further. 

Quality-of-life adjustments to the Rampant Drone Fabricator will make the site smoother to run as well, including changes that make it easier to incorporate interdictors into fleet compositions. 

Together, these changes give Fabricator Data a new purpose and put more of the site's value into rewards that capsuleers can use, trade, and build around. 

Pochven Shifts Again 

Historically the Observatory Flashpoints in Pocvhen have been the main driver for both income and conflict. There are more options now, so we're making some adjustments. 

Vigilance Points will allow fleets of up to 12 pilots, increased from 10, opening them to a wider range of fleet compositions and increasing the available payout accordingly.  

Observatory Flashpoints will move in the opposite direction, with the maximum fleet size reducing from 15 to 12. Fleets will need to find efficient compositions that can handle the encounter with fewer pilots, increasing the rewards available to each successful member of the fleet. 

Further iterations will also be made to aspects of intra-Pochven wormholes, extra-Pochven wormholes, and Roaming NPC fleets are also being updated, with more groups moving through the region and improvements to their behavior. 

Ship Balance Across New Eden 

A wider balance pass accompanies these changes, with several ship classes receiving improvements. 

Marauders and black ops battleships will have their mass reduced, alongside adjustments to agility. The lower mass will be particularly significant in wormhole space, allowing these powerful hulls to pass through wormholes with less impact on their available mass. 

Heavy assault cruisers and assault frigates are also receiving changes focused on improving lower-performing hulls. The Ansiblex changes could give smaller, lighter ships another strategic advantage, too, as their lower capacitor costs make them considerably easier to move through a busy jump bridge network.  

The Deimos, Phobos, and Vigilant will regain some range following earlier medium railgun changes that affected those hulls more heavily than intended, while lancer dreadnoughts will receive stronger resistance profiles to improve the survivability of these expensive, specialized ships. 

Industrialists working with Triglavian technology should also take note. The material cost of the Zero-Point Field Manipulator used in the production of the Babaroga is being reduced, with the change expected to lower production costs across Tech II Triglavian ships. 

Be Prepared 

The first Military Campaigns are approaching their conclusion, so capsuleers taking part still have time to advance their empire's objectives and secure the rewards available before the campaigns end. 

Changes are coming to the AIR Career Program (ACP) as well. The program will migrate to Paragon Services achievements in November, so capsuleers with unfinished ACP tasks should complete them and claim their rewards before the migration takes place. 

Once those tasks become achievements, they can be completed again through the new system, providing another opportunity to progress through them and earn the associated achievement rewards. 

Keeping track of that progress will also become easier. The info panel will be able to track up to five achievements at once, making it much simpler to follow several objectives without repeatedly returning to the achievements interface. While you’ll have to wait until November for the ACP migration, the info panel changes are happening with the Major Update. 

There’s never been a better time to dive into the action than now, and to get started at warp speed and looking the part, you can now save up to 30% on Omega time in the New Eden Store until 20 September, and get free Cold Wind’s Call SKINs in the bargain! 

In addition, you can get up to 1,500 PLEX free with Omega packs in the EVE Store, making this deal even more attractive!  

For capsuleers who have been away from New Eden, 22 September will bring a universe with new strategic considerations and new opportunities to find a place in them. Alliance borders will matter in new ways, Insurgencies will move faster, and familiar territory from nullsec to Anoikis is changing. 

Return to EVE Online and find out where you fit into the upheaval. 

United capsuleers,

In celebration of Caldari Union day, you can save up to 30% on Omega time in the New Eden Store until 20 September, and get free Cold Wind’s Call SKINs in the bargain!

Upgrade to Omega Clone state today and unlock double skill training speed, access to advanced skills, a wide range of EVE's biggest and best ships, full access to the contracts system of trading, and more.

Commissioned by the Chief Executive Panel, these SKINs feature dynamic visual effects, wind tunnel patterns, Caldari banners, effects for docking and warp, as well as speed holograms.

The Cold Wind’s Call SKIN line is designed by T’amber, aka Caldari Prime Pony Club, a prominent, creative figure in the EVE Online community, known for designing unique and visually striking SKINs.

The Caldari Union Day celebrations will end in only three days, so you’re running out of time to claim your free gifts and amazing deals. Don’t delay!

Get even more SKINs from the Cold Wind’s Call line, available for individual purchase in the New Eden Store until 15 September.

In addition, a player favourite Omega + PLEX combo has returned to the EVE Store, making this deal even more attractive! That means more PLEX available for capsuleers looking to make the most of the NES sale, and a great opportunity for those looking to turn their PLEX into ISK.

Alliance Tournament XXII returns this weekend as New Eden's competing teams continue their seven-round Swiss battle for one of just 16 places in the finals. The spaceships start exploding from 13:30 UTC on Saturday and Sunday, live on the Fenris Creations Twitch channel, with match predictions, Twitch Drops, expert analysis, and plenty more questionable theorycrafting. If you need something to get you in the mood before then, check out the Alliance Tournament XXII trailer:

Or alternatively, relive one of the highlights from the opening weekend, as our commentary team successfully tackled the entirely sensible team name xqtywiznalamywmodxfhhopawzpqyjdwrpeptuaenabjawdzku. However, Twitch chat was advising that people's furniture started levitating after!

As the Swiss rounds continue, the standings are taking shape, and every match carries a little more weight. Teams near the top will be looking to maintain their momentum against increasingly tough opposition, while those further down the table still have opportunities to fight their way back into contention. With only the top 16 progressing to the Alliance Tournament XXII finals, every win matters - and as the remaining rounds tick by, the margin for error gets smaller. Expect new matchups, unexpected compositions, a few surprises, and probably at least one strategy that looked considerably better on paper.

There's also more to explore away from the broadcast. Head over to the Alliance Tournament XXII website to find all the teams taking part in this year's competition, along with links to their full rosters. From there, you can dive even deeper through the community tournament website built and maintained by Howling Wind, packed with stats and information on the pilots stepping into the arena. Additionally, the first 4 days of the Tournament are now up on our YouTube playlists. You'll find each day of broadcasts as a separate video, and all the matches are indexed within each video to make it easy to find the team you're rooting for the most!

Whether you're researching who to back with your channel points, checking up on a favorite team, or just looking for some weekend spaceship violence, join us from 13:30 UTC on Saturday and Sunday and see who takes another step towards the final 16.