New MMO set in the EverQuest IP could be developed

During a recent investor presentation, Ji Ham, the CEO of Daybreak and Enad Global 7 revealed investment plans for 3 intellectual properties that they currently hold. 

One of those was EverQuest, and the proposal to potentially develop a new MMORPG within the EverQuest IP.

This is extremely exciting and hopeful. 

But, You may have seen a lot of clickbait headlines that EverQuest 3 has been announced. That is far from what actually was said.

However, what was said is INCREDIBLY good news. I’m not talking about the development of a new game. Listen to Ji Ham himself.

Ji Ham : EverQuest. This one is what we consider to be our most important IP. It’s fantasy MMORPG. It’s literally the one that ushered in the golden era of MMOs. If I said today there’s a new EverQuest coming out in 2026, that would be global gaming news because it’s a beloved IP.

That, to me , is the biggest take away, and the most heart-warming of all recent news. EQ is important and beloved.

So, now the Ideation phase begins.

“Once again how development works for a project like this. You’ll have a very small team initially for the concept stage. That could be 3 people. So we currently have an executive producer assigned to this particular project. Along with him there are a couple of other people who’ll be working on figuring out the concept. And then once that concept is ready that’s when we’ll start ramping to a certain extent. When I say ramping it’s utilizing some of the teams we have internally as well as we might hire one or two people. But that number goes to somewhere around 10 to 15 people. So relatively small investment still, but that’s where you go through the preproduction project.

Ji Ham (Regarding H1Z1)

Now, H1Z1 is the specific example he’s discussing here, because that development could begin next year.

But that same model will likely be used for a new EverQuest MMO. It has been announced on the Daybreak Careers page that they are hiring for a new Creative Director for an announced Project. 

All of this is extremely exciting, but to say that EQ3 is on the way in 2028 is not exactly the takeaway here.

But, every games development process has a beginning, and that may be already underway. 

We also have some insight into exactly the direction that they may decide to go in.

Hardcore is ok. It could be mass market and we want to try and bring back that original experience as much as we can for EverQuest. That’s where we’re starting. But it’s not a remaster. It would be a brand new game.

Ji Ham regarding potential development of a new EverQuest MMO

Staying true to the original EverQuest experience is something that I believe a lot of us veterans are excited to hear.

Finally, as is often the case with game development, NOTHING is set in stone. Notice the subtle language here:

But we’re not starting development on this for a while for investment 2025 IF we do this for 2028 release.

Ji Ham regarding investing in new EverQuest MMO development

The key word there being IF. If they decide to make the investment. IF they can find a good model of development, playstyle and IF there is an audience. All questions that will need to be answered. And 2028 is 5 years away!

I’ll remind you that EQ Next was announced in 2013 and cancelled just 3 years later in 2016.

What does the current head of Darkpaw think?

But what could a new EQ MMO look like. In my Spring interview earlier this year with Darkpaw Head of Studios Jenn Chan, I asked her a similar question:

Fading : Talk to me a little about that. The environment of the MMO playerbase is different. The market is different. What do you think about that?

Jenn Chan: Well I think the pillars of EverQuest will always ring true, right? No matter how the environment changes and how new technology comes out, and how our tastes change, the pillars of what makes EverQuest EverQuest will always still ring true. Community and teamwork. Absolutely working together and building social bonds to achieve things that you can’t do on your own. And fairness. That’s always been a key component of what makes EverQuest EverQuest. You perform certain actions, you put the time in. You work hard and you get rewarded. Your accomplishments and achievements are never taken away. No matter what happens to the face of MMOs and what happens in the industry, it’s the pillars of what makes EverQuest that always ring true.

As an EverQuest fanboy all of this recent news is amazing to hear, and I feel like EverQuest could be entering a new renaissance over the next few years.

Other, even Bigger announcements on the way

And now to what could be right around the corner…

I think even MORE exciting news could be coming in the Fall Producer’s Letters for EQ and EQ2 likely to be dropped in early October…

Given previous Fall Producer Letters, we’re likely to have some major announcements…

First, we’re likely to find out the title and general theme of the 30th expansion for EverQuest and 20th expansion for EQ2. Along with some additional hints about where we going.

We’ll likely also receive some information about Beta access and various other in-game events like Fall Fun and the ongoing Extra Life fund raising.

But I have a suspicion there could be some additional news dropping regarding the 25th anniversary celebration. WHICH is LESS than 6 months away!

In the meantime, 50% lockouts continue in EQ until October 9th and then 150% experience gains begin through October 23.

In EverQuest 2, Shattered Overture was released just weeks ago and Frustctured Skies, the expansion prelude is active as well.

It’s an exciting time for EQ and EQ2 and I think we’re in store for a very exciting time in the world of Norrath.