Terry “Fairan” Michaels, Senior Producer for Landmark and EverQuest Next at Daybreak Game Company (formerly Sony Online Entertainment), has posted a Producer’s Letter with an update on the latest developments regarding the in-development world-building sandbox and MMORPG combo.

The letter is pasted in full further down the page, or you can read the official posting at the Landmark website. But first let me give you the tl;dr version with the main points.

First, Daybreak is shifting its primary development focus from Landmark, which is still in closed beta, to EverQuest Next. Hotfixes and updates to Landmark will continue, just not at the same frequency.

Second, as promised when the MMO pair was first announced, creations by the Landmark player community are being used to bring the world of EverQuest Next to life, as evidenced by the newly released screenshot at the top of the page showing a scene from EQN built from player-created content.

Third and last, even though EverQuest Next is now Daybreak’s top priority, you shouldn’t suddenly get your hopes up for it to launch this year. That doesn’t mean a 2015 release is officially off the table, however Michaels’ statements clearly aim to set the expectation that it’s unlikely for EverQuest Next to be ready this year. Now if by some chance the game actually does come out this year, you can be pleasantly surprised, as opposed to disappointed if Daybreak were to go ahead and claim a 2015 launch only to have to delay the game later.

Greetings!

I wanted to take a few minutes (and words!) to recap what’s happened over the past few weeks and give everyone an update on what to expect moving forward!

So, what’s been going on with team? The month of May was pretty much all about the big character and claim wipe, and then fixing issues that were introduced or discovered immediately afterward. Things have mostly settled down and the team is hot on the heels of the remaining high priority bugs. As soon as we get them fixed, we’ll get them out as soon as we can.

As the team has wrapped up the various pieces related to the wipe and the bugs associated with it, we have been shifting our focus and resources over to work on the highest priority tasks and systems that will be used in EverQuest Next. While we do this, we’re working in areas with high amounts of creative risk. This means that while we know what we want to do, we know it will take an unknown amount of iteration, tweaking and sometimes drastic direction changes to get these in game and working the way they need to. Because of this, we simply cannot commit to any dates, because until we get much closer, even our best estimates are educated (but still fairly wild) guesses.

This also does mean that any features that are Landmark-only are lower in priority and will have to wait until we have time to come back to them. So, as we shift our focus and development to EQN, it just doesn’t make sense to continue with the Blueprint, since the goal of that has always been to provide short term, concrete plans of what you could expect and when, and that isn’t something we can reliably estimate at this point. When we have a better idea of timing on the various pieces, we will make sure to let everyone know.

This does *not* mean that the team isn’t hard at work on things that will eventually make it into your hands. We *absolutely* are! Essentially, as we develop tasks and systems that are in a state fit for Landmark, we will get them into the game with an update. We still want and need your feedback on what we’re making in order to make sure both Landmark and EverQuest Next are as amazing as we all want them to be. You can fully expect updates and hotfixes to Landmark as we continue with this development process; they are simply going to be on a less regular schedule than you guys have been accustomed to over the past year or so.

Landmark and the player community are very important to us and will continue to be essential in the development of EverQuest Next, exactly as we’ve promised from the very beginning. In fact, here’s a quick peek at how we’re using some of the amazing creations you all have made as we build EverQuest Next.

This is only the first small glimpse of what’s to come and I look forward to seeing how everything comes together as EverQuest Next continues to take shape over the rest of the year and beyond. Also, before anyone asks, I want to clarify that although we are shifting our primary focus to EverQuest Next, this does not mean the game will be coming out this year.

We WILL be continuing with the Workshops, so keep an eye out for those! And when we have a bigger update, we’ll also schedule a Landmark Live to get together and chat like we have in the past! More fun times are definitely ahead!

Whenever we have information to share, we’ll continue to keep everyone up to date on the forums, twitter, reddit, Facebook and any of the other usual means of communication. Make sure to check in regularly to find out what’s going on with the games and with the entire team (both the employees AND the community)!

Terry “Fairan” Michaels
Senior Producer – Landmark and EverQuest Next

Source: Producer’s Letter: June 2015 [Landmark]

Over the weekend at its SOE Live fan gathering, Sony Online Entertainment lifted the veil on the next EverQuest entitled — get this — EverQuest Next!

In development for four years now, EverQuest Next will mark the beginning of “The Emergent Era” for MMORPGs, an era in which players will work together to help build the game alongside SOE’s developers. This cooperative effort will all be possible through the “collaborative building hub” known as EverQuest Next Landmark, a mix of social MMO interaction with the design tools being used to create the game. Landmark will be available this winter as a “Free To Play. Your Way.” product that will allow players to collaborate with each other to design structures and environments, all of which will be considered for inclusion in the full release of EverQuest Next.

SOE doesn’t have a launch date targeted yet for EverQuest Next proper, but like Landmark the game will be a free-to-play offering. I suppose release timing will all depend on how the community embraces Landmark and how quickly content comes together. That stuff will be sorted out in due time. For now, continue reading for more early game info and media SOE has provided for the next generation of EverQuest. Additional updates can be found at www.everquestnext.com.

EverQuest Next Features:

Multi-Classing – EQN will offer players the ability to explore and interact with the world according to their individual style of play. There are no levels in EQN, but there will be more than 40 distinct classes (or professions) at launch, with multi-tiered abilities and specialized weapon skills to collect and master. Players will even mix and match abilities from each class, creating truly custom characters that feel distinct and powerful.

Destructible Environments – No modern MMO has successfully implemented destructible environments that stretch across an entire seamless game world – this changes forever with EQN. Every piece of the world is fully destructible and players will have the ability to manipulate almost all of it. They will interact with and explore the world in amazing ways; venturing down into the deep bedrock beneath the surface and using powerful combat abilities to blow gaping holes into the ground. The EQN world will extend far into the heavens and deep into the procedurally-generated earth through 10,000 years of known lore and history.

Permanent Change – Players will also have the ability to cause the world to change around them, permanently, in dramatic ways. Through the concerted effort of the world’s inhabitants, including players, creatures, and non-player characters (NPCs), city walls will be built and destroyed, large-scale wars will be fought and won, and epic stories will unfold over months and years.

Emergent AI – In EQN, NPCs will have specific motivations and preferences that direct behavior in nuanced and unpredictable ways. Players will find themselves in a world where NPC decisions are based on core values, not dictated by static spawn points. For example, Orcs may attack opportunistically because they want an adventurer’s gold, not simply because a careless hero wanders into an attack radius.

A Life of Consequence – Finally, each character in EQN will have a unique story; they will not follow a predetermined path. Instead, they will seek out adventure, fame and fortune in a constantly changing sandbox world. The game will remember every choice and action that players make and will organically deliver increasing opportunities to do more of the things players like to do … from crafting armor and exploring the wilderness to purging goblins from the forests.

Introducing EverQuest Next Landmark

This winter, SOE will introduce EverQuest Next Landmark (Landmark). Essentially, Landmark will combine the powerful and intuitive building tools SOE is using to create the fully destructible world of EQN with all of the social functionality expected from a modern MMO.

The game will feature huge persistent worlds that each support thousands of other players and varied terrain inspired by the environments of EQN. Most importantly, Landmark will provide anyone who wants to participate with the opportunity to actually build structures, and eventually create other types of content, to be considered for inclusion in EQN. Landmark will enable players to:

Create Amazing Things

– Build highly detailed structures with powerful and intuitive tools.
– Quickly design complex projects or collaborate with friends to undertake massive shared builds.
– Lay claim to and control specific areas of huge persistent worlds.

Share Your Imagination with Friends

– Landmark’s persistent servers will enable players to interact with and experience the collective imagination of thousands of players in a unique shared world.
– Players will have compelling reasons to explore and interact with others. They will congregate at crafting hubs, build design templates to share and trade, and journey across the world to collect the resources required to build and craft.

Build EQN with SOE — Using the Same Tools

– Landmark players will gain increasing access to many of the same tools that SOE is using to construct the game world of EQN.
– Not only will Landmark give players access to these world building tools, SOE will provide specific guidance on what we want help building.
– Through this collaborative approach, EQN may eventually represent the largest overall collaborative development effort in the history of online games. For anyone who has ever thought about becoming a game developer, here is your chance. Together we will build extraordinary things!

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Some cool stuff to check out, too. We’ve got pics of Sony’s awesome-looking PlayStation Move title, Sorcery. Plus shots of other PS3 exclusives like Starhawk and the long-awaited Ratchet & Clank Collection containing the three classic PS2 titles enhanced in HD.

The Amazing Spider-Man‘s latest screens introduce super villain Iguana, and in other Marvel video game news Zen Studios has unveiled the next Marvel Pinball table pack called Avengers Chronicles, which is coming as DLC to Marvel Pinball (PSN) and Pinball FX2 (XBLA) and as a standalone download for PS Vita.

Battlefield 3‘s first digital expansion pack, Close Quarters, is coming in June, bringing with it four tight, close-quarters multiplayer maps and an HD Destruction upgrade as seen in a six-pack of new screenies.

Other featured titles include Of Orcs and Men, Demonicon, Quantum Conundrum, Sumioni: Demon Arts, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, The Gunstringer‘s new DLC add-on El Diablo’s ‘Merican Adventure, Datura, Sleeping Dogs, now free-to-play EverQuest, browser-based MMO strategy game Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection, Ys: The Oath in Felghana and Ys Origin for PC, and LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.

Sorcery (PS3-PlayStation Move):
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Starhawk (PS3):
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The Amazing Spider-Man (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, 3DS):
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Battlefield 3: Close Quarters DLC (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles (PSN, XBLA, PS Vita):
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Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3):
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Of Orcs and Men (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Demonicon (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Quantum Conundrum (PC, PSN, XBLA):
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Sumioni: Demon Arts (PS Vita-PSN):
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Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS):
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The Gunstringer – El Diablo’s ‘Merican Adventure DLC (Xbox 360-Kinect):
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Datura (PSN-PlayStation Move):
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Sleeping Dogs (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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EverQuest Free-to-Play (PC):
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Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances (PC):
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Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection (PS3-PSN):
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Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PC):
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Ys Origin (PC):
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LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS, DS, PS Vita):
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Coming up for Halloween, Sony Online Entertainment is prepping in-game events for all of its MMORPGs to celebrate the holiday. Obviously EverQuest and EverQuest II will be leading the way as they do every year, but even games you probably didn’t even know still existed like The Matrix Online and EQ Online Adventures are joining the party (are people really still playing either of those!?). Check below for the complete schedule.

EverQuest®: The lands of Norrath have been overridden with mystery, magic and mayhem. Help the inhabitants of Greater Faydark weed the Necromancer’s Garden of the horrible sprouting skulls that have taken root there. Assist farmers in West Karana subdue the spooks in a Scarecrow Roundup. Rewards will go to all who succeed in combating these episodes of the supernatural! These events are scheduled to run Oct. 24 through Nov. 7.

For detailed information, please visit www.eqplayers.com.

EverQuest® II: Nights of the Dead only comes once a year in Norrath, so players take heed! During this ghastly holiday, citizens of Norrath can venture into Qeynos or Freeport to free the spirits trapped in the haunted houses, combat evil in the haunted mansion missions, trick-or-treat with NPC’s in the cities for something especially sweet or participate in Ponchy the Halfling’s petrifying quest series! Nights of the Dead is scheduled to run Oct. 22 through Nov. 3.

For detailed information, please visit www.eq2players.com.

Star Wars Galaxies: For the first time ever, Naboo and Tatooine will play host to the spooky zones of the Galactic Moon Festival. Oct. 14 through Nov. 7, this foreboding festival will be filled with ghosts, gravestones, spiders, Sith-o-lanterns and other creepy crawlies. Visit the Galactic Moon Festival organizer Z’ozpheratu to obtain the appropriate costume, and then players can taunt costumed NPCs with tricks in exchange for Halloween treats. May the fright be with you!

For detailed information, please visit http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com.

Legends of Norrath: Scary creatures lurk in the fields at night this Halloween! Anticipated to run Oct. 22 through Nov. 4, players will face the mysterious and deadly Scarecrow King in an all-new Legends of Norrath scenario created just for Halloween. New and existing players alike are invited to bring their best decks and try this free scenario with Halloween treats, including a powerful promo card and valuable loot cards for EverQuest or EverQuest II for those who manage to slay the monster!

For detailed information, please visit www.legendsofnorrath.com/scaryscarecrow.vm.

Vanguard Saga of Heroes: The sinister necromancer Sartok has summoned some of his most fearsome creations yet and will soon unleash them on the inhabitants of Telon during Sartok’s Surprise. Travelers beware, as three terrifying new undead raid encounters will be roaming the lands seeking out adventures both young and old. Any heroes able to best Sartok’s abominable creations will be rewarded with special appearance-altering costumes and magical masks. While adventurers rest between battles, they can complete special new quests to claim additional rewards such as new pets or more magical masks.

For detailed information, please visit, www.vgplayers.com.

EverQuest® Online Adventures: Slated for launch on Oct. 23, EQOA will introduce a special Halloween quest for those who aren’t afraid of a few tricks and possibly a treat. Part of the Halloween quest includes the introduction of the Skeleton King who brings riddles to players who encounter him, but be careful, answer a riddle incorrectly, and you may meet the reaper.

For detailed information, please visit, http://everquestonlineadventures.station.sony.com.

The Matrix Online: Halloween’s massive moon and creepy round-the-clock nighttime set the backdrop for the appearance of seven new disguise masks in The Matrix Online, for a total of 28 collectible disguises of spooky and exotic Matrix characters! With events scheduled to run Oct. 23 through Nov. 6, any Redpill can catch the zombies and jack-o-lanterns that drop lootable masks in the various neighborhoods of the four districts. Be forewarned, a special bite attack from the spawning zombies will render any victim “zombified”; however, players can then use the bite attack to zombify others!

For detailed information, please visit, http://thematrixonline.station.sony.com/players/.

Tonight from its Las Vegas Fan Faire, Sony Online Entertainment has announced the latest expansion packs for EverQuest and EverQuest II. EverQuest: Seeds of Destruction, the whopping 15th EQ expansion, launches October 21st and will bring with it an increased level cap to 85, the ability to hire the aid of NPC mercenaries and 20 new zones. EverQuest II‘s 5th expansion pack, The Shadow Odyssey, is slated to launch a month later on November 18th, bringing with it over 20 zones, an achievement level cap increase to 200, two new deities, a new Dungeon Delving mission system and plenty more. Public beta tests are scheduled to begin for Seeds of Destruction and The Shadow Odyssey on August 19th and September 2nd, respectively. All Fan Faire attendees are also being treated to free copies of both expansions in SOE’s continued efforts to reward its loyal fanbase.

Hit the jump for feature lists for the new expansions. I’ll have trailers and screenshots going up for both shortly.

EverQuest II The Shadow Odyssey Feature Set:

· New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp.
· Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen.
· Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines.
· Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
· Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added.
· Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
· Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
· New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath.
· Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
· Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack.

EverQuest Seeds of Destruction Feature Set:

* Mercenaries: Player-controlled NPCs are now available and will not only scale to the appropriate level, but also think and act for themselves with limited player guidance. Designed for extra support or extra muscle in PvE encounters, mercenary archetypes include a variety of classes from all playable races.
* Level Cap Increase: Players can now achieve level 85 with new high-level item sets, new alternate advancement ability lines and new spells.
* 20 New Zones: Features re-imagined classic content and brand-new realms for adventurers to explore, including the eerie wasteland of the Void, the Battle of Rathe on the Plane of Earth and the ultimate Heart of Darkness in the Plane of Discord.
* Access to All Previous Content – Includes all features and content from the 14 previous expansion packs.
* Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck, booster pack and loot item.

It’s hard to believe EverQuest‘s 10th anniversary is coming up next year. Sony Online Entertainment’s groundbreaking MMORPG launched back in 1999 and laid the foundation for what has become one of the most popular genres in the gaming industry. In honor of the occasion, SOE and BradyGames are hard at work putting together EverQuest: The 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, a hardback, commemorative book providing a retrospective look at the franchise’s first decade in existence. Penned by video game book author Rusel DeMaria, the book will be brimming with “essays and photographs of the events, products, personalities and art that has graced Norrath over the years” and will “explore the fans’ fascination with the online game, artwork, community, imagination, and innovation that have fueled this massively multiplayer game.”

EverQuest: The 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition book is currently scheduled for North American release in early 2009 for a retail price of $49.99. Those attending the SOE Fan Faire in Las Vegas this weekend (Aug. 14-17) will get the first crack at pre-ordering the commemorative tome, at a discounted price to boot.

“Oathbreaker has played a significant role in the sequence of Legends of Norrath development both internally and with the player community,” said Scott Martins, director of development, SOE Denver. “With over 250 new cards to enhance your strategies, Oathbreaker is a perfect point to jump into the game, just in time for the monthly Legends of Norrath Championship Series, which is set to culminate in August in Indianapolis at Gen Con Indy 2008. At that event, 32 players will compete for a total prize pool of $100,000!”

Currently slated to launch on June 19th, Oathbreaker promises to complete the main Inquisitor storyline that all started in Oathbound, Legend of Norrath‘s first card set. Below is the complete list of new features to look forward to:

New Cards – More than 250 new cards for your online arsenal! Collect all 210 base set cards, four starter decks featuring 16 new quests and three random rares, 10 scenario rewards, fantastic new loot cards for EverQuest and EverQuest II and lots of new promotional cards.

Play For Free – SOE is providing all registered LoN users even more complimentary content and bonus features in the game client, including ten new scenarios that tell the tale of Oathbreaker and a brand new raid. Go to www.legendsofnorrath.com for complete details.

New Raid Play – In the Antechamber of Fate, up to four players can face off against the powerful island guardian Chel’Drak, the dragon turtle!

New Gameplay – “Charge” is a new keyword that provides additional bonuses to cards while players have, or get rid of, their charge tokens. Re-linkable navigation offers greater flexibility in play by allowing linked cards to be linked again to a new target.

New Faces – Explore new unit types, legends, keywords and abilities for your favorite EverQuest and EverQuest II classes, with the introduction of “unarmed” Monks, Coercers, Templars and Beastlords (with their warder pets)!