Launched in 2003, “EVE Online” is a space-based massively-multiplayer role-playing game in which player interactions have a large role in determining the economic and political developments.

DeepMind’s researchers will at first put their AI models to test in a separate, offline version of the game that is not accessible by players.

“It is a one-of-a-kind simulation for testing general-purpose artificial intelligence in a safe sandbox environment,” said Alexandre Moufarek, the director of DeepMind research.

Playing the game should help DeepMind’s AI models to improve their long-term planning and continuous learning skills.

The head of the lab, Demis Hassabis, said video games are “the perfect training ground for developing and testing AI algorithms” and had enabled many of DeepMind’s breakthroughs.

Google’s minority stake comes as part of a return to independence for Iceland’s CCP Games, which has been held by South Korean game studio Pearl Abyss since 2018.

Following the US$120 million transaction it rebranded itself as Fenris Creations, and said the deal affects ownership and governance only, with no planned layoffs in Iceland.

It added it plans to keep its studios in London and Shanghai as well.

It said the company was profitable on more than $70 million in revenue last year, and plans two upcoming EVE-related titles.