Everquest legends revives classic mmorpg with innovative class system

Daybreak Games and Game Jawn are resurrecting a beloved classic. EverQuest Legends, launching on PC in July, aims to deliver the quintessential EverQuest experience while injecting modern gameplay tweaks and a player-driven customization system.

New classes and a casual approach

The game retains the original art style, zones, and music that defined the original EverQuest but introduces significant changes. Players can now create unique characters by selecting up to three active classes per character, inheriting benefits, stats, spells, and abilities from each. This allows for unprecedented character builds and a more flexible progression system catered to both casual and solo players.

“EQL allows players to create unique characters by selecting up to three classes at a time,” the team explained. “You can also upgrade your gear (up to +10) and swap and combine different focus, click, and proc effects on your gear.” With 15 available races and 560 possible class combinations, the possibilities are vast.

The update also includes quality-of-life enhancements, such as an upgraded spell and ability management system and improved UI. This addresses criticisms leveled against the original game’s complexity, a hurdle for many newcomers.

The project has been a passion for executive producer David Youssefi, who has envisioned a solo/casual version of EverQuest for over two decades. “We’ve put a lot of love and hard work into making a game that honors the legacy of EQ while forging new experiences for players of all stripes to enjoy,” he stated. The team is offering early access through a closed beta next month.

The initial release will feature the continent of Antonica (pre-Kunark) and all of the original EverQuest playable races, including Iksar, Frogloks, and Kerran. The game's past has been a rollercoaster; a previous attempt, EverQuest Next, was canceled in 2016 after Daybreak deemed it “wasn’t fun.”

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN.