Sony Online Entertainment Unlocks the Gates of Discord™ for EverQuest®

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, today announced Gates of Discord™, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest®. This expansion will offer exploration of a newly discovered continent; a new class (the Berserker) and Alternate Advancement Abilities that will offer new and unique skills to master. Gates of Discord will be available February 2004 at retail outlets such as Electronics Boutique, Best Buy and Gamestop, and as a secure digital download from SOE. The retail version of Gates of Discord will also come with a unique in-box gift and special in-game magic item. By purchasing the retail version of Gates of Discord, players will be able to claim the in- game item.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011203/LAM002 )

"Players will face the greatest threat to Norrath and the chaos of a realm yet undiscovered. Norrathians will need to unite with the Wayfarers Brotherhood to oppose this mighty force," said Michael Lustenberger, director of product marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "In preparation for one of the most epic adventures yet, the Gates of Discord will offer players alternate advancement abilities, leadership experience, the Berserker melee class and vast new areas and zones to explore."

The Gates of Discord directs players to the west side of Antonica where Nedaria's Landing is abuzz with activity in preparation for one of the greatest and most dangerous expeditions in the history of Norrath. Stories and events will lead players across an uncharted land twisted and scarred by an unknown force. New alternate advancements will challenge the most veteran of players while the new Berserker class brings inordinate amounts of strength and bravery.

About Gates of Discord

The rumors that began in The Ruins of Kunark® now hold true -- a new continent has been discovered on the far side of Norrath. The Wayfarers Brotherhood will need to amass a brave and trustworthy army for an expedition of epic proportions. Join armies of adventurers on their quest to unearth long-hidden artifacts of power from temple ruins, secret catacombs, dank sewers and vast marshlands. Should you fail, Norrath, its inhabitants, and its gods may fall under control of the forces of Discord! Gates of Discord includes the following new features:

   *  100 new Alternate Advancement Abilities offer a different method of
      character progression with new and unique skills to master
   *  Gain leadership experience and unlock many group and raid-enhancing
      tools
   *  20 new zones, ten new instanced zones and ten new traditional zones
      including a huge ship city zone, complete with merchants, tradesman,
      and quest-givers, where you can gather your party and launch
      expeditions.  The new combat zones are for characters level 50 and
      above
   *  New Berserker class empowers you to ravage your enemies with
      two-handed axes or by hurling large objects
   *  Discover the newly found continent of Taelosia, which holds the
      secrets of Norrath's future
   *  20 all new NPC models make for hundreds of challenging encounters
      unlike anything seen before in EverQuest
   *  New Tribute System enhances gameplay by allowing players to choose
      beneficial attributes, skills, or effects through offerings at their
      home cities
   *  Dozens of new and exciting story-driven quests for the hardy
      adventurer
   *  New tradeskill recipes to produce hundreds of new items
   *  Unearth arcane spells, mighty weapons and other hidden treasures!

The new expansion will be downloadable via the EverQuest launch pad for $29.99. Additionally, retailers will be offering a boxed version that will carry a suggested retail price of $29.99, which includes a special in-box item and in-game item. For more information on Gates of Discord, please visit: http://www.gatesofdiscord.com/ .

About EverQuest

Developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), EverQuest launched in 1999 and has since become both a gaming and cultural phenomenon. The game has sold more than 2 million copies while continuing to grow with award-winning expansions The Ruins of Kunark®, The Scars of Velious®, The Shadows of Luclin™, The Planes of Power™, The Legacy of Ykesha™, and Lost Dungeons of Norrath™, making it the largest online 3D fantasy world ever created. During peak periods, more than 118,000 simultaneous adventurers have explored the fully detailed world of Norrath, filled with monsters, magic, adventure and more. The active global EverQuest subscriber base of more than 430,000 players is comprised of people from 40 different countries. Sony Online is committed to bringing EverQuest to various entertainment platforms, releasing titles such as EverQuest Online Adventures for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, EverQuest for the Pocket PC and EverQuest: Hero's Call for wireless phones. In 2004, SOE plans to launch the highly- anticipated sequel, EverQuest II, on PCs around the globe.

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 a subscriber base of over 750,000 active players 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, EverQuest® 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 and St. Louis, MO, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.

EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. SOE and the SOE logo are registered trademarks and PlanetSide is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011203/LAM002
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT: Tamara Sanderson, +1-858-577-3362, tsanderson@soe.sony.com , or
Chris Kramer, +1-858-577-3481, ckramer@soe.sony.com , both of Sony Online
Entertainment

Web site: http://www.gatesofdiscord.com/