Since the release of the Oculus Rift development kit, many major game developers have been experimenting with virtual reality in their labs. Now, another one of them has come forward in support of the technology: Sony Online Entertainment, the company behind EverQuest. Now, it sounds like the upcoming EverQuest Next will offer some kind of support for the technology.
EverQuest Next could be the first MMORPG to support the Oculus Rift
is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.
Last August, the company teased possible support for the virtual reality headset in a behind-the-scenes video for EverQuest Next. Without saying a word about VR, a developer donned an Oculus Rift while the camera knowingly lingered for a few moments. It wasn’t just a visual gag: In a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) yesterday, SOE president John Smedley confirmed that the company would indeed support the Oculus Rift “in some way shape or form.”
“Probably for no other reason then it’s really damn cool and programmers love that stuff,” added Smedley.
"I'm thinking this is real and we may have our Snowcrash after all."
While that doesn’t sound like much of a committment, another Redditor asked about supporting other virtual reality systems besides the Oculus Rift, and Smedley responded in promising fashion: “hearing good things about 2 competitors... one of which actually comes from Sony. so I’m thinking this is real and we may have our Snowcrash after all,” wrote the executive.
While a number of other MMOs have proclaimed support for the Rift — primarily space sims like Vendetta Online and the upcoming Star Citizen, but also Second Life — SOE’s EverQuest Next could be the first to offer a virtual reality fantasy role-playing experience.
Smedley also told Redditors that his company has another unannounced MMO in the works, one which he hopes will appease Star Wars Galaxies players.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
