SOE unveils the future of MMOs with EverQuest Next and EverQuest Next Landmark

Sony Online Entertainment today presented their new vision for the future of massively multiplayer online games through the announcement of two new games: EverQuest Next and EverQuest Next Landmark. Though the two games are drastically different in playstyle, they share a similar scope and vision — to create a "living world that players are part of."

“With EverQuest Next, we’re going back to our roots – a space we defined with the EverQuest legacy – and ushering in a new era of MMOs: The Emergent Era,” said Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley. “Today, many MMOs fail because players consume content faster than developers can create it. With EverQuest Next, we’re creating a living world that players are part of and empowering them to produce new content alongside the development team. What does the future hold for EverQuest Next and Sony Online Entertainment? It’s in the players’ hands, and we like it that way.”

EverQuest Next is a re-imagining of the original 1999 classic, while Landmark is basically a free-to-play sandbox with built-in modeling tools that allow the community's creations into the future world of EverQuest Next.

While no pricing has been announced for the launch of EverQuest Next, Landmark is expected to release as early as this winter. This will allow it to serve as the "gateway to EQ Next."

Are you ready for the future? If not, check out a the more in-depth details for EverQuest Next and EverQuest Next Landmark.