Producer's Letter: 20 Years of EverQuest

Hail, Norrath!  

This year we celebrate 20 years of EverQuest. Unbelievable.

We are truly humbled that this incredible game – as much yours as ours – has achieved this rare and unprecedented milestone that began all the way back in March 1999.

EQ’s launch feels a world away now, lest we forget dial-up modems, Y2K panic, CRT monitors, 640x480, open-book medding, corpse runs, lost corpses, ninja looting, guild drama, dawn of DKP, and so many other moments. But the most important outcome of EQ has been all the friendships and lives touched by this game over these 20 years.

We’ve heard so many amazing stories of EQ bringing people together in love, marriage, and even into the joys of parenthood. We’ve also experienced the power of our game community during the hard times, softening the pain of illness and tragic deaths by participating with EQ families. We all have an EverQuest story to tell.

For me, before I became a game designer on EQ in 2003, I had already met nearly 20 or 30 guildmates and in-game pals. I helped guildies get jobs, find new homes, and one even helped me get a job on EQ – Lyndro as he was known then. I still talk to that crazy, brilliant mage.

In this anniversary year, let’s live the legacy of EQ and turn it up to 20, and focus on what has made this game great – you, the community.

Our anniversary events in game in March include a brand new land, raids, and rares with a story about preserving our past, and it’s free.  

We are aiming at two new progression servers with two approaches – one hardcore and one ultra-casual. Rules will be coming soon as we sort them out over the coming weeks with both new servers launching around the anniversary on March 16.

We also want to celebrate with you IRL! We’re working on pulling together an EQ fan event so we can hang out with you, our honored guests. Timing for that event is likely to be summer, but I’m hoping to announce more details on timing/location in March for those who want to plan ahead with your own family, guildies, and friends and join us!

And of course, we want to hear from each and every one of YOU! We're looking for player stories to help us commemorate this crazy occasion. Please send us a 20-second or less video of how EQ changed YOUR life. Upload your video to YouTube (public or unlisted) and send us the link here through Player Direct for a chance to be featured during our anniversary celebrations! You can also submit a 15-second clips featuring your main character on your most played server to become a part of our EQ 20th Yearbook album that will come to life on Facebook later this year.

On a personal note, I owe so much to this game, the EQ community at large, and this team. THANK YOU to all devs and players, past and present, for bringing EQ to life and making it home for so long.

There will be more announcements, so be sure to stay tuned. This year, we are LIVING THE LEGACY OF EVERQUEST!

Yours, always sincerely,

Holly “Windstalker” Longdale

Executive Producer