Sony Working On Free-to-Play EverQuest II

Dungeons and Dragons Online got the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG party started this year, Warner Bros. announced it will follow suit with Lord of the Rings Online this fall, and now Sony Online Entertainment has hopped on board, offering a free EverQuest II model alongside its subscription-based service.

Dubbed EverQuest II Extended, the new service will open more than five years of content to keep online adventurers busy in Norrath for free.

"As the digital entertainment market evolves, SOE is focused on continued innovation in content delivery that best fit the needs of the growing consumer base," said SOE President John Smedley. "Our goal with Extended is to offer players an alternative to our current subscription program that gives them the option to choose a program that best fits their play style."

Without a subscription, credit card, or software purchase, players can dive into the wide pool of content EverQuest II has put out since it was launched in 2004. All game zones are accessible, and SOE hopes to hook a new generation of fans and create a new revenue stream through microtransactions.

"The very nature of an MMO is change, and the decision to create Extended was fueled by evolution of the industry landscape," said EverQuest II Producer David Georgeson. "By offering two services side by side we have given the power to our players to determine the program that best fits their game play style."

Extended is scheduled for a beta launch on August 17 alongside a major gameplay and graphics update to the core game. Those of you with questions can find answers here.