BUSAN -- Icelandic game company CCP’s CEO Hilmar Petursson said at G-Star 2019 on Thursday that the launch of the Korean-language version of Eve Online was a 20-year dream come true.

CCP, acquired in 2018 by South Korean game company Pearl Abyss, officially launched the game in Korea concurrently with the opening of the annual game exhibition here.

“It’s a proud moment for all of us and especially for me, because I have been preparing for this moment for 20 years,” Petursson said during a press conference.

Petursson’s first encounter with a Korean game was with Nexon’s Kingdom of the Winds in 1999.

Ever since then, he has been following what’s going on in Korea.

“I have come to the conclusion that Korea is usually five years ahead of the West,” said Petursson. “Usually what I do is I take a look at what’s going on in Korea -- thinking it would become the reality for us later.”

It had always been a mission for CCP to bring its game to Korea, but the company had been shy to do so, as it considered Korean players to be too advanced, Petursson said.

“We are glad to have Pearl Abyss as our ally,” said the Icelandic CEO, adding that the two companies are working together closely to come up with more MMO developments.

Eve Online is an MMORPG set in outer space that aims to “make virtual reality more meaningful than real life.”

Petursson said space-oriented MMORPGs are enjoying wide appeal globally right now.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)