Editing EverQuest (section)

{{Short description|1999 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = EverQuest
| image = EverQuest Coverart.png
| developer = [[Verant Interactive]] <br> [[989 Studios]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|[[Sony Online Entertainment]]|EU|[[Ubisoft|Ubi Soft]]}}
| producer = [[Brad McQuaid]]
| designer = Steve Clover <br> Brad McQuaid <br> William Trost
| programmer = Steve Clover
| artist = Rosie Rappaport
| composer = Jay Barbeau{{efn|Additional music by [[Paul Anthony Romero]], [[Rob King]], [[Laura Karpman]], Chad Mossholder, [[Inon Zur]], and Mark MacBride.}}
| engine = [[Return to Krondor|True3D]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/whats-happening/latest-news/1999/1325/return-to-krondor-on-playstation |publisher=Raymond E. Feist |title=Return to Krondor on PlayStation |date=January 16, 1999 |access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref>
| released = '''Microsoft Windows'''<br>{{vgrelease|NA|March 16, 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.everquest.com/news/everquest-15-year-infographic |publisher=[[Sony Online Entertainment]] |title=EverQuest: Fifteen Years in Norrath |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>|EU|April 28, 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/content/pr_evercheap |title=Everquest price drop |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-date=2002-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219113941/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/pr_evercheap |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}'''Mac OS X'''<br>{{vgrelease|NA|June 24, 2003<ref name=mac>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.sony.com/en_us/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-online-entertainment/2003/everquest-macintosh-edition-now-available-for-mac-.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906174322/https://www.sony.com/en_us/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-online-entertainment/2003/everquest-macintosh-edition-now-available-for-mac-.html |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |title=EverQuest Macintosh Edition Now Available for Mac Gamers |publisher=Sony Corporation of America |access-date=October 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game]]
| modes = [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]] (1999–) <br> [[Mac OS X]] (2003–2013)
}}

'''''EverQuest''''' is a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[fantasy]]-themed [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]] (MMORPG) originally developed by [[Verant Interactive]] and [[989 Studios]] for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]. It was released by [[Sony Online Entertainment]] in March 1999 in [[North America]],<ref>{{cite web |title=EverQuest II announced |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everquest-ii-announced/1100-2863644/ |access-date=March 28, 2015 |date=May 1, 2002 |author=Trey Walker|website=[[GameSpot]] |quote=Sony Online Entertainment has announced ''EverQuest II'', the upcoming sequel to its groundbreaking massively multiplayer online role-playing game ''EverQuest''.}}</ref> and by [[Ubisoft|Ubi Soft]] in [[Europe]] in April 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ubisoft.co.uk/index.html |title=Ubi Soft Entertainment UK |publisher=[[Ubisoft]] |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020808001257/http://www.ubisoft.co.uk/index.html |archive-date=2002-08-08 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A dedicated version for [[Mac OS X]] was released in June 2003, which operated for ten years before being shut down in November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/everquest-mac-shutting-down-again/ |title=EverQuest Mac shutting down (again) |publisher=[[Engadget]] |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2018 |author=Olivetti, Justin}}</ref> In June 2000, Verant Interactive was absorbed into Sony Online Entertainment, who took over full development and publishing duties of the title. Later, in February 2015, SOE's parent corporation, [[Sony Computer Entertainment]], sold the studio to investment company Columbus Nova<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/sony-online-entertainment-sold-to-investment-firm-columbus-nova-1201421468/ |title=Sony Online Entertainment Sold to Investment Firm Columbus Nova |date=2 February 2015}}</ref> and it was rebranded as [[Daybreak Game Company]], which continues to develop and publish ''EverQuest''.

It was the first commercially successful MMORPG to employ a 3D game engine, and its success was on an unprecedented scale.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/why-we-still-play-the-classics-everquest-unreal-tournament-and-x-wing |title=Why We Still Play Everquest |publisher=USgamer.net |date=3 November 2014 |language=en |access-date=2018-07-21}}</ref> ''EverQuest'' has had a wide influence on subsequent releases within the market, and holds an important position in the [[history of massively multiplayer online games]].

The game surpassed early [[Subscription business model|subscription]] expectations and increased in popularity for many years after its release. It is now considered one of the [[List of video games considered the best|greatest video games ever made]]. It has received numerous awards, including the 1999 [[GameSpot]] [[List of Game of the Year awards|Game of the Year]] and a 2007 [[Technology & Engineering Emmy Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners of 59th Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards Announced by National Television Academy at Consumer Electronics Show |url=http://www.emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/tech_2k7_winners.html |publisher=The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) |access-date=12 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921181619/http://emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/tech_2k7_winners.html|archive-date=21 September 2010}}</ref> While dozens of similar games have come and gone over the years, ''EverQuest'' still endures as a viable commercial enterprise, with new expansions still being released on a regular basis, twenty-five years after its initial launch.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/everquests-22nd-expansion-goes-live-tomorrow/ |title=Everquest's 22nd expansion goes live tomorrow |work=[[PC Gamer]] |access-date=2018-07-21 |language=EN-US}}</ref> It has spawned a number of [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off media]], including books and video games, as well as a sequel, ''[[EverQuest II]]'', which launched in 2004.