The struggling MMO studio Daybreak is reportedly developing two new MMOs with Everquest 3 and Planetside 3. However: Both sound like Fortnite in the version presented here. Moreover, three games from the publisher are set to be discontinued, including the MMORPG giant Everquest and its successor Everquest 2. Many consider the rumor to be a cruel troll post.
How is Daybreak doing? Turbulent times at developer studio Daybreak. The MMO studio has laid off staff, reportedly around 70. This became necessary after the only current game from the studio, H1Z1, lost the battle for players against PUBG and Fortnite. The latest rumors indicated that the studio is looking for a buyer.
What is Daybreak currently working on? Currently, Daybreak has not announced any game that they are officially working on. The prestige project Everquest Next was canceled in 2016. But it seems that Daybreak is working on something; there have been job postings spotted for a new project. Daybreak owns two popular franchises, Everquest and Planetside, which played important roles in the development of online games.
The current games are aging. Daybreak urgently needs new games. The current games like Everquest (1999), Everquest 2 (2004), DC Universe Online (2011), or Planetside 2 (2012) are all quite old.
Where do the rumors come from? A user claiming to be a former employee of Daybreak gave insights into the supposed plans of the studio on reddit. The user says: “I was fired, here is some information that you might find interesting.”
The post has since been deleted, but the internet forgets nothing.
Two new games in development, both focusing on Battle Royale
So says the user:
- Planetside 3 is in an early development phase. Other teams are expected to join the project in 2019. Planetside 3 will be a team-based battle royale game. It combines the building aspect of Fortnite with territory conquests.
- Everquest 3 has been back in development for a year and is being rebuilt. Everquest 3 will compete with “Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen.” It will be the first fantasy MMORPG that focuses on team battle royale.
3 games will be discontinued
Less good news for the alleged ex-employee regarding 3 older games from Daybreak:
- Just Survive is in the final stages. Several ideas have circulated on how to increase profit here, but it seems that the end for Just Survive is near.
- Everquest will receive one last expansion. For the 20th anniversary, there will be a series of nostalgia raids that are tied to complex quests. The quests will bring powerful weapons that will scale.
- Everquest 2 will also receive its last expansion and will then have a similar series of farewell quests and weapons as Everquest.
3 games will continue normally
- H1Z1 will receive a smaller map. The PS4 port looks good. New skins will be developed and released. But most of the team will transition to Planetside 3.
- Planetside 2 is set to receive new character models and animations. A new map and an aircraft carrier are planned for the end of 2018.
- There are no news regarding DC Universe Online.
Currently just rumors – Many consider this a cruel troll post
How credible is the rumor? The community largely does not believe the post and considers it to be a cruel troll post. However, major US MMO sites are already reporting on it, making it a topic that we also want to address.
Although there are indeed leaks and rumors that Daybreak is working on a “battle royale game” in Norrath, the world of Everquest, many cannot imagine turning Everquest 3 into a battle royale game.
At present, these are just rumors, which, however, fit a lot of what is thought about Daybreak’s current situation. It seems that “Just Survive” is truly on the brink of cancellation. And it is clear that Daybreak needs new games.
However, the idea of jumping on the battle royale bandwagon seems to be rather shortsighted. While currently, after the back-and-forth surrounding a press release that was finally corrected after 3 years, many have faith in Daybreak.
In the coming months, one can look forward to whether the news from the MMO studio indicates that there is something to these rumors.
More on the topic:
“Just Survive” is likely dead – H1Z1 is sinking against Fortnite and PUBG
