It was published from May to December 2003 by Simon & Schuster Interactive, after which CCP purchased the rights and began self-publishing via digital distribution.

Set more than 21,000 years in the future, Eve Online explains that humanity (having used up most of Earth's resources through centuries of explosive population growth) began colonizing the rest of the Milky Way.

[3][4] Groen, who had written for Wired and Ars Technica,[5] wanted to write a book about parts of the video-game world which had been overlooked by other journalists.

[7] He spent two years in research, talking to over 70 players, examining forum posts and reading data related to the game.

In the first chapter, the Red Alliance (a Russian player group) makes its last stand against a faction of enemies;[16] Eve Online is then explained to readers unfamiliar with the game.

The Band of Brothers, which played an important part in the war, is documented from its formation through its battle against the Fountain Alliance (its former allies) for Delve in 2005.

[11] Their failed fight for independence, expansion under the Goonswarm banner and defeat by the Dusk and Dawn Alliance are explored.

The next part of the Great War covers Agamar (a traitor) before concluding with a summary of the book's events and future predictions.

[21] Peter Freeman of Critically Sane gave Empires of Eve four out of five stars, calling it a "special book that deserves to be read by anyone interested in experimental writing alongside a Game of Thrones-like tale in space".

[22] David Andrews of Bookworm Everlasting said that non-fans of Eve Online would still find the book engrossing.