EverQuest II: Rise of Kunark Announced

Sony Online Entertainment issued a press release this evening officially announcing Rise of Kunark, the fourth expansion pack for EverQuest II.

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES EVERQUEST® II RISE OF KUNARK™

Fourth Expansion for EverQuest® II Currently in Development, Features New Playable Race, New Zones based on the Original EverQuest, Raised Level Cap and More

SAN DIEGO, CA May 10, 2007 Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that Rise of Kunark, the fourth expansion pack for EverQuest® II, is currently in development. Expected to launch on or around November 13, Rise of Kunark will be available at retail stores and via digital download for $39.99. Retail consumers receive the base EQII game, the Rise of Kunark expansion, all three previous expansions (Desert of Flames, Kingdom of Sky, Echoes of Faydwer) as well as a Cockatrice house pet.

(With Rise of Kunark, we’re continuing to build on the high-quality content and rich, exciting environments that players experienced with Echoes of Faydwer,) says Scott Hartsman, Senior Producer and Creative Director, Sony Online Entertainment. (By combining new content based on the original EverQuest with new races, zones, quests and items, we expect to deliver a deep and fun experience for EverQuest II veterans and new players alike.)

Rise of Kunark introduces a new playable race, the Sarnak. This dragon-like humanoid inhabits the jungle islands of Timorous Deep, a new starting location for adventurers. Timorous Deep presents a wealth of new content for levels 1-20, and is one of the many new zones being developed for this expansion. Many of these zones are based on favorite gameplay areas from the original EverQuest, such as Karnor’s Castle, the Lake of Ill Omen, Sebilis and Veeshan’s Peak. Guilds, adventurers, and artisans can expect to benefit from a raised level cap, as all level caps are raised to 80, in addition to new solo, group, and raid content for levels 65-80.

Hundreds of new quests will be added to the expansion, promising exciting adventures and encounters, including class Epic Weapon quests for all classes. Players will also be able to explore this new world astride a new mount the rampaging Kunarkian Rhino. Dozens of new NPCs, as well as a host of new weapons and armor await players as they explore and unravel the mysteries surrounding the beautiful, yet dangerous continent of Kunark.

EverQuest II Rise of Kunark Features

‘¢ All-New Player Race Start up a brand new Sarnak the classic dragon-like humanoid creature that now inhabits Timorous Deep. Exiled from your homeland and magically altered, discover how your new breed came to be, and eventually return home to help your race triumph over the evil Iksar.

‘¢ New Starting Area Begin your adventure from the new starting area in the islands of Timorous Deep. Conclude your day of epic quests and retire to new housing within the Village of Gorowyn.

‘¢ Level Cap Raised Continue your adventures on your existing character in Kunark, expanding on your achievements as Adventure, Tradeskill and Guild levels all increase to 80.

‘¢ More Unique Zones Advance your way through new massive regions, containing many zones filled with nostalgia and danger, such as The Emerald Jungle, Skyfire Mountains, Sebilis, and Karnor’s Castle.

‘¢ Hundreds of New Quests The tale of Kunark is told through hundreds of new quests, aimed at gameplay of all types: solo, group, and raid.

‘¢ More Weapons & Armor New Epic Weapon quests for all 24 classes, with new weapons for both those who raid and those who choose not to. Battle through the opposition and acquire additional fabled and legendary armor sets as well.

‘¢ New Mount Explore the world on the shoulders of a new rampaging beast – The Kunarkian Rhinoceros.

‘¢ New Deities Recent activities on Norrath have again attracted the attention of the gods. Bertoxxulous The Plaguebringer, Karana The Rain Keeper, and the mysterious Tribunal return to exert their influences on planet. As with the existing gods of Norrath, players may pledge to these new deities to gain access to their Blessings and Miracles.

‘¢ Dozens of New NPCs Encounter and engage a wide variety of new enemies that inhabit the menacing lands of Kunark.

For more information on these games, visit the EverQuest II Web site, www.everquest2.com, www.riseofkunark.com or www.SOEpress.com.

A free 7-day trial of EverQuest II is also available at www.playthefae.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.