EVERQUEST® II EUROPEAN BETA TESTING BEGINS IN JULY

Beta Program Sign-ups Begin in June for the Next Generation of the Online Gaming Phenomenon

London, UK - 2nd June, 2004 - Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, and Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) gaming, today announced that the European beta sign-up for EverQuest® II will begin in Europe on the 7th June, with the beta testing program itself starting in July. EverQuest II will be fully localized in English, French and German making it the first MMO game to feature localized voiceover when it ships.

Beta testers will be selected from applications received through the EverQuest II website. Gamers interested in signing up should visit www.everquest2.com beginning on the 7th June, 2004, for information on how to apply. SOE will notify qualified Beta applicants in stages over the coming months.

"EverQuest II will begin public Beta testing in both Europe and North America at the same time," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "Our goal is a simultaneous launch of the game in three languages - English, French and German. Our simultaneous Beta is going to go a long way towards helping us make sure that we make EverQuest II an international success."

Alain Corre, EMEA Managing Director for Ubisoft said "EverQuest II is now ready to be shown to a wider audience, and it is hugely important for us as a publisher that gamers get to give their feedback on any aspect of the product before launch. EverQuest II is genuinely revolutionizing the MMO gaming genre and is surely promised to a large success also in Europe".

Sony Online Entertainment and Ubisoft will be working closely together throughout the beta test to help to create a fantastic MMO experience for players.

About EverQuest II
EverQuest II is the next generation of massively multiplayer gaming, a huge online world where thousands of players come together for adventure and community. Featuring breathtaking graphics and a vast, beautiful game world to explore, EverQuest II sets the standard for graphical realism as players are immersed in the game's exciting locales and dangerous lands. EverQuest II brings players into its world with a powerful epic storyline and gives them the power to be the hero or villain in their personal adventure. Players enter this world by creating their own unique character, choosing from 16 races and 24 classes. Players will encounter hundreds of creatures as they travel across majestic landscapes of rolling hills, barren deserts, dense forests, and bustling cities. Thousands of items, hundreds of spells, and unlimited adventure await all who enter the world of EverQuest II. EverQuest II also features:

• A new, massive online world for thousands of players to explore, filled with danger, adventure and mystery
  
• Voices for almost every non-player character (NPC) in the game, a huge project encompassing nearly 100,000 lines and 130 hours of dialog (the equivalent of more than 65 feature films worth of content)
  
• A state-of-the-art, cinematic quality 3D graphics engine capable of improving as hardware technology advances
  
• Amazing character customization capabilities. In addition to thousands of pieces of armor, weapons and items, players will be able to customize their character's facial appearance to an incredible level of detail and personalization
  
• 16 races, 50 levels and 24 classes with a branching system that allows players to choose their class as they advance
  
• No race/class combination limitations, allowing players to truly choose who they want to be in game
  
• Player-owned real estate (such as apartments, homes, and guild houses)
  
• State-of-the art combat, spell and skill systems
  
• New user friendly game mechanics with reduced learning curve for both new and seasoned players
  
• Trade skills available to all player classes
  
• More than 160 unique creature types, from Orcs and Goblins to huge dragons and menacing Living Statues

For more information on EverQuest II, please visit: http://www.everquest2.com.