How a virtual space battle lost gamers £400,000

While spending money on video games is not uncommon, EVE Online stands out because players' assets can be permanently destroyed; their real-world cash outlay gone in seconds. The game's financial system is so complex that in 2025, a former economist from the Central Bank of Iceland was hired to oversee it. Players can amass huge virtual fortunes by mining raw materials or fighting as mercenaries, but they aren't allowed to convert in-game wealth back into real-world cash. Playing EVE Online can take hundreds of hours. Some see it as a second job, dedicating up to 35 hours per week to...