Sony Online Entertainment Thanks Fans for Five Years of Support for EverQuest®

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, announced today that in honor of the Fifth Anniversary of EverQuest®, fans of the hugely popular online fantasy game are being rewarded with a host of special offers and in-game activities. For two weeks, EverQuest players will be able to choose between two specially discounted 12 month subscriptions, as well as take part in a number of in-game quests and activities that include all-new items and events.

"The EverQuest fan base has been incredibly loyal these past five years and the game's success is a tribute to their passion and enthusiasm," said Michael Lustenberger, director of product marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "To celebrate EQ's fifth anniversary, we wanted to offer our players a very special thank you through in-game activities, unique items and special subscription pricing offers."

Beginning today, players will have the opportunity to enjoy significant savings at www.everquestlive.com . For the next two weeks, 12-month subscriptions to EverQuest are available for $99.99 (a savings of over $50) or players can take advantage of the SOE All Access subscription and enjoy the following SOE published games: EverQuest, PlanetSide®, EverQuest® Online Adventures™ and Station Pass for 12-months for $199.99 (a savings of over $60). These offers are available until March 30, 2004. Games are sold separately and certain restrictions apply. Please see official website for terms and conditions.

For a limited time, EverQuest players can also look forward to in-game activities commemorating the game's fifth anniversary. On Tuesday, March 16th the following in-game activities begin:

   *  An in-game scavenger hunt which rewards participants with a 5th
      anniversary staff.  The commemorative staff will have special effects
      based on the age of a player's EverQuest character.

   *  Famous and fabled non-player characters will be toughened up and their
      loot will be more valuable than ever before.

   *  Celebratory fireworks will begin in Wayfarer Camps across the land,
      occurring every Norrathian evening at 10:00pm.  This light show will
      be unlike anything ever seen before in Norrath!

   *  Armies of skeletons will march through various zones.  These skeletons
      will drop unique items that will never again be seen in-game.

SOE has big plans for the future of EverQuest. The next 15 months of action and excitement within the game have already been planned out with two more EverQuest expansions in the works. In order to keep the look and feel of EQ fresh and competitive, the development team will be introducing an all-new graphics engine for the current game with the greatest and most dramatic changes visible in future expansions. With more than 6 continents, an enchanting moonscape and planar zones to explore, 15 races and more than 350 supporting characters from snow orcs to giant scorpions, one of the world's biggest and most influential title keeps getting better.

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™, Lost Dungeons of Norrath™ and Gates of Discord™, 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. 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 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 700,000 active accounts 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 an additional development studio in Austin, TX, 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.

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.everquestlive.com/