EverQuest, the title often credited with laying the groundwork for the modern MMORPG genre, is receiving a contemporary overhaul.

Daybreak Game Company has joined forces with indie developer Game Zone to announce 'EverQuest Legends'. While they are keen to preserve original staples like instanced dungeons and threat-based aggression systems, they are also bolstering the single-player experience to entice a modern audience.

The game transports us back to the Antonica continent, set before the Ruins of Kunark expansion. The developers are aiming to mirror the original's distinct art style, graphics, and spell effects to feel as close to their 20-year-old roots as possible. However, they are simultaneously dragging the experience into the present day by decluttering the user interface and refining the skill management systems.

Players can choose from 15 distinct races—including Froglok, Human, Dwarf, Elf, and Iksar—and each character can juggle up to three jobs simultaneously. By sharing magic and stats, this allows for over 500 potential job combinations. Gear enhancement hits a cap at level 10, and you can swap or combine various item affixes to your heart's content.

Solo adventurers haven't been forgotten, either. EverQuest Legends is designed to let you tackle high-difficulty challenges entirely on your own. For those who prefer the social touch, party-based MMO content is still very much on the menu, though group sizes have been trimmed down to four for standard parties and a maximum of eight for large-scale raids.

EverQuest Legends is aiming for a full launch this July, with a closed beta test scheduled for April. You can sign up for the beta test right now on their official website.