Sony Online Entertainment Announces Depths of Darkhollow™ Expansion for EverQuest

- For the First Time, EverQuest Players of All Levels Will Play as Monsters and Experience the Story Through the Eyes of Some of the Most Powerful Creatures in Norrath -

PRNewswire
SAN DIEGO
06/15/2005

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, today announced EverQuest®: Depths of Darkhollow™, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest®. EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow is scheduled to be available at retail and for digital download from Sony Online Entertainment for U.S. $29.99.

"The passion and dedication of the EverQuest development team continues to shine through as Depths of Darkhollow is one of the best additions yet to the EverQuest universe," said Chris Sturr, senior brand manager, Sony Online Entertainment. "Depths of Darkhollow offers something for players of all levels as they battle their way through spectacular new underground environments and countless new missions, raids and events."

EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow will have players adventuring in raw, bleak caverns and facing the most formidable monsters yet. Featuring new lands with beautiful graphics, a bold new storyline, and fierce new creatures including Sporali, Clockwork Gnomes and the frightening Werewolves, EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow is the next great expansion pack for the fantasy adventure that is EverQuest. For the first time ever, players will have the ability to play as a monster and experience EverQuest lore first hand through the eyes of another character while they do battle against their ancient foes. Players will also utilize Spirit Shrouds to don the form of a lower level creature to join newbie friends in battle. EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow is bursting with new adventures and features for players of all levels.

About EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow

On the world's surface, the battle between Firiona Vie and Lanys T'Vyl continues to rage throughout the lands. As a new evil begins to emerge from the underground, you will journey into a world of immortality and devastation as you struggle against the overwhelming power of Dreadspirekeep. This terror is unlike anything ever seen before and you will engage in an epic struggle to keep it from surfacing to the world of Norrath. EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow includes the following features:

   *  Monster Missions: Play as you never have before and see Norrath
      through the eyes of some of its fearsome and powerful creatures as you
      step into their form to do battle against their ancient foes.
      Experience EverQuest lore first hand through the eyes of another
      character in Monster Missions and unlock the ability to use more
      powerful monsters!

   *  Spirit Shrouds: Don the form of a lower level creature and join your
      friends in battle while earning experience for your normal character!

   *  Evolving Items: Earn new items that advance as you use them, becoming
      more powerful over time and unlocking hidden abilities and wield
      intelligent items with a personality of their own!

   *  New Missions: Battle your way through over 60 new missions.

   *  New Creatures, New Environments and New Encounters: More than
      30 unique creatures, 7 zones, 15 small instances, with a re-envisioned
      Nektulos Forest.

   *  New Crafting, Spells, Items and More!

The new expansion will be downloadable via the EverQuest Station Store for U.S. $29.99 (plus tax where applicable). Retailers will be offering a boxed version that will carry a suggested retail price of $29.99, which includes exclusive post cards illustrated by world-renowned artist, Larry Elmore, as well as a special in-game item, a Clockwork Boar mount, for players to enjoy. Additionally, a special in-game item will be available to consumers who pre-order and digitally download direct from Sony Online Entertainment.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Digital Inc., 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™: An Empire Divided™, 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, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.

EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. SOE, the SOE logo and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT: Tamara Sanderson, +1-858-577-3362, tsanderson@soe.sony.com, or
April M. Jones, +1-858-577-3387, ajones@soe.sony.com, both of Sony Online
Entertainment Inc.