EverQuest Next is now EverQuest Never. Daybreak Games announced on its official website that it has ceased development on the ambitious MMO that, despite its developer's new name, has rarely seen the light of day.
"For those familiar with the internals of game development, you know that cancellations are a reality we must face from time to time," Daybreak president Russell Shanks wrote. "Inherent to the creative process are dreaming big, pushing hard and being brutally honest with where you land. In the case of EverQuest Next, we accomplished incredible feats that astonished industry insiders. Unfortunately, as we put together the pieces, we found that it wasn’t fun."
EverQuest Next was first announced way back in 2010, and despite a few gameplay reveals and promised features, we don't know too much more about the game now than we did then. Back when Daybreak was still Sony Online Entertainment, a Reddit AMA with former president John Smedley confirmed that EverQuest Next was headed to PS4 on top of its PC version. Daybreak confirmed that its projects were still on track after the change of name and ownership, so presumably those plans were still effective up until now.
The game's detailed construction system will live on in Landmark, a spin-off title that is planned for official launch on PC this spring. EverQuest Next's legacy of building and exploration may persist, but I'm sad to see its intriguing ideas about reactive, multiplayer storytelling go - like orcish encampments that pull up stakes and leave when too many players start farming them for loot, or steadily claim more territory when left unchecked
The studio plans to release H1Z1: King of the Kill on PS4 and Xbox One this summer, and is still working on DC Universe Online and PlanetSide 2. Daybreak's "passion to grow the world of EverQuest remains undiminished," Shanks said.
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