Continuing on the success of the original EverQuest, Sony Online Entertainment Inc. announced it is developing EverQuest II. Scheduled to launch in Winter 2003, EverQuest II adds significant improvements over the first, widely popular, iteration. EverQuest II uses a completely new, cutting-edge 3D engine developed in-house with a host of technological features allowing the development team to generate an unparalleled visually stunning 3D world. Other features include the ability to own real estate, ride horses, command ships, and experience all-new enhanced spells, quests and events. EverQuest II returns to the culturally diverse world of Norrath in the future of the original EverQuest, with the sheer size and graphical detail greater than ever seen before.

It's no secret that we have seen phenomenal success with EverQuest, said John Smedley, senior vice president and COO, Sony Online Entertainment. With these improvements to an already great game, we are not only investing in our growing online community, but also pushing the boundaries of what the next generation of role-playing games aspire to be. EverQuest II is the successful embodiment of better technology, player feedback and our desire to build an online global community.

Larger in scope than its predecessor, EverQuest II will be able to host hundreds of thousands of simultaneous users from all over the world. And, due to increased localization features including real-time translation in English, French, German, Japanese and Korean, as well as localized servers in select countries, players from every corner of the earth will be able to explore familiar areas and new, undiscovered territories of Norrath. With innovative in-game creatures, weapons and items EverQuest II promises something new for all subscribers.

EverQuest II is truly an amazing experience, said Andrew Sites, producer, Sony Online Entertainment. The vastness of the world, the increasingly deep storyline and the continuity of the online community make EverQuest II an unparalleled game.

The financial success of the original Everquest is undisputed and in order to better understand its magnitude you would be wise to have a look at a Megagames Special focusing on just that success.

It seems that Sony paid attention and their plans for the Everquest 2 are mainly to use it as a vehicle to push their PS2 online plans as far as possible. tHIS IS ONLY Their planned E3 line up is full of Massively Multiplayer titles such as The Planes of Power, PlanetSide and of course Everquest 2.