EverQuest
News, coverage and analysis tracking EverQuest across the outlets.- Betawatch: EverQuest Legends’ preorders, ArcheAge’s rebootThis week's Betawatch covers several MMORPGs, including EverQuest Legends opening preorders for its July 28th launch and ArcheAge receiving a reboot for Chinese players. The article also highlights ongoing beta tests and demos for games like Embers of the Uncrowned and RF Online Next, while noting delays for Outward 2 and providing updates on Guild Wars 3's business model.
- Massively Overthinking: Is the era of the themepark MMORPG over?Industry veterans discuss the sustainability of themepark MMORPGs, with Raph Koster suggesting rising development costs are making the model unsustainable. While some argue that modern themeparks incorporate sandbox elements to survive, others believe the dichotomy is false and that innovation from both styles is key. The discussion highlights the challenges of content creation speed versus player consumption and the evolving player base's preferences.
- EverQuest Legends tweaks spell and weapon upgrades as OG EverQuest makes its 2023 expansion F2PEverQuest Legends is introducing a new Spell Upgrade System during its beta phase, allowing players to invest motes to enhance spell scaling for mana costs, cast times, damage, and more. The weapon upgrade system will be reverted, and some Berserker Stance functionality will be restored. Separately, the original EverQuest has made its 2023 Laurion's Song expansion free-to-play.
EverQuest Legends Launches July 28, Pre-Orders and Beta Access Available NowDaybreak Game Company and Game Jawn announced that EverQuest Legends, a reimagined version of the original MMORPG, will launch on July 28 for $19.99, including one month of game time. Pre-orders are available now, granting access to a beta period starting July 1 and offering an exclusive in-game title. The game will operate as a live service title with ongoing content updates and a $9.99 monthly subscription after the initial month.- Hey, Daybreak actually rescued DC Universe Online’s forums instead of canning themDaybreak Game Company has relaunched the community forums for DC Universe Online after a period of issues. The new forums preserve most user data, including post history and usernames, while introducing some fresh elements. This news coincides with the release of a new daily Trouble Alert event and a multiplayer cutscene skip feature in the game.
EverQuest Legends launches in JulyDaybreak Game Company has announced that EverQuest Legends, a reimagined version of the 1999 classic, will launch on Windows PC on July 28th for $19.99, followed by a $9.99 monthly subscription. The game is designed for solo and casual play, allowing players to combine up to three classes and upgrade gear extensively. Preorders grant access to a beta period and exclusive in-game items.- EverQuest Legends has begun $20 preorders for its July 28th launch – new trailer ahoyEverQuest Legends has begun preorders for its July 28th launch, priced at $20 which includes the first month of subscription. The game is a reimagining of the original EverQuest, designed for solo and casual play with support for groups and raids. Preorder customers gain access to a beta period running from July 1st to July 21st.
EverQuest Legends launches July 28EverQuest Legends is set to launch on PC on July 28 for $19.99, with a recurring monthly subscription of $9.99. Pre-orders are available now and include access to a pre-order beta, character name reservation, and an exclusive in-game title. This reimagined version of the classic 1999 MMORPG offers modern quality-of-life improvements while allowing for solo or casual play with features like multi-classing and gear upgrades.- EverQuest’s Hardcore Heritage and EverQuest II’s Summer Jubilee are back for another yearThe annual Hardcore Heritage event for EverQuest and the Summer Jubilee for EverQuest II are returning. Hardcore Heritage will increase the challenge and rewards in older zones until July 7th, featuring three phases. The Summer Jubilee in EverQuest II is already underway, offering items and achievements through various celebrations like Tinkerfest, Scorched Sky Celebration, and Oceansfull Festival.
Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies vet tells me the theme park 'assembly line' MMO just isn't viable anymore, especially as dev costs spike: 'We hit the wall'Veteran MMO developer Raph Koster believes the 'theme park' style of MMO, popularized by World of Warcraft, is no longer viable due to skyrocketing development costs. Koster, who worked on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, argues that the increasing expense of creating static content, coupled with player consumption rates, makes this model unsustainable. He suggests that the genre has become stagnant, with players growing bored and feeling underserved by an industry focused on monetization over innovation.- One Shots: Hangin’ with my virtual homiesThis week's 'One Shots' feature highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, Secret World, EverQuest II, and Lord of the Rings Online. Players shared unique in-game moments, from NPC group photos to holographic dragons and secret hideouts.
- Betawatch: EverQuest Legends sets a launch date, Bellwright sells a million copiesEverQuest Legends is set to launch on July 28th, with preorders opening next week. Meanwhile, Donkey Crew's medieval survival game Bellwright has surpassed one million copies sold on Steam and is releasing on consoles. The article also mentions several other games entering early access or testing phases.
- EverQuest Legends’ latest stream previews instancing and difficultyEverQuest Legends' latest stream detailed instancing and difficulty systems, clarifying that loot drops are tied to difficulty level rather than solo or multiplayer instances. Players can expect to manage instance charges and charges, with some zones restricting UI access for raid targets. The developers aim for both gear and tactics to be viable approaches to overcoming challenges.
- EverQuest II releases Wuoshi TLE server, temporarily boosts All-Access membership perksEverQuest II has launched its new time-locked expansion server, Wuoshi, which begins with the Echoes of Faydwer expansion and progresses every three months. Daybreak Game Company is also temporarily boosting perks for All-Access membership subscribers and has added new cosmetic items for sale. The update also allows players to hire mercenaries from anywhere and swap between owned ascension classes if they are over level 100.
- EverQuest Legends launches July 28, with preorders open next week to ramp up the betaDaybreak Game Company has announced that EverQuest Legends will launch on July 28th, with preorders opening on June 16th. Preordering grants access to a beta starting July 1st, character name reservation, and a special title. The standalone reimagining of EverQuest will cost $19.99 at launch, including one month of subscription, with subsequent monthly subscriptions priced at $10.
- Casually Classic: Five MMOs other than WoW Classic that deliver that old school feelThis article explores several Massively Multiplayer Online games that capture the old-school feel reminiscent of World of Warcraft Classic. Titles like Old School RuneScape, EverQuest Legends, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, Embers Adrift, and Project Gorgon are highlighted for their embrace of legacy game design principles, challenging gameplay loops, and community-focused experiences.
- Hollowed Oath, the MMORPG by former EverQuest rogue server devs, finished Kickstarter with $166KHollowed Oath, an MMORPG developed by former EverQuest rogue server creators God Mode Games, successfully concluded its Kickstarter campaign, raising $166,000 against a $100,000 goal. This funding unlocks one stretch goal for expanded adventure systems, though many other features were not funded. The game aims to provide an independent experience similar to the developers' previous unauthorized EverQuest server.
Texturetown is a Frankenstein's MMO created by remixing Club Penguin, Pirates of the Caribbean Online and other dead MMOsTexturetown is an experimental MMO created by LA-based academic Aidan Strong, remixing assets from defunct children's MMOs like Club Penguin, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Toontown, and Fusionfall. The game uses altered code, audio, text, and textures to evoke disjointed nostalgia for abandoned online spaces of the early 2000s.- Betawatch: AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity and Torebia launch into testingThis week's Betawatch roundup highlights the upcoming testing phases for AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity and Torebia, both noted for their genuine genre fandom and plucky effort. Other games entering testing include Star Citizen, which has surpassed one billion dollars in crowdfunding, and various MMORPGs like Pantheon Rise of the Fallen and Subnautica 2.
- Classic EverQuest has officially opened Frostreaver, the progression server you voted onDaybreak Game Company has launched Frostreaver, a new time-locked progression server for the classic MMORPG EverQuest. This server, which players voted on, begins with the Scars of Velious expansion and progresses through all subsequent expansions to the current live version. Access to Frostreaver requires a Daybreak All Access Membership subscription.