In March, EverQuest will celebrate its seventh birthday. But although it has recently been overshadowed by rivals like World of Warcraft, Sony Online Entertainment continues to release expansions for the venerable MMORPG. Today, the developer-publisher announced the 11th major add-on for the PC game. Titled EverQuest Prophecy of Ro, it will be available in February in two versions: a $26.99 digital download of the expansion only or a $29.99 boxed retail product that includes EverQuest and a special in-game item.

　　"EverQuest Prophecy of Ro will give players the opportunity to interact with and transform the online world of Norrath like never before," said Chris Sturr, a senior brand manager at SOE. Sturr was being literal, referring to how the expansion will make EverQuest's environments more destructible, letting players break down doors and demolish walls and other structures.

　　The publisher said the new expansion will add more than 30 new missions, 25 unique creatures, seven zones, and six small instances to the game. It will also allow players to create magical spheres of influence, which will alter the rules of the game. The newly launched Prophecy of Ro Web site has more details on the game.

　　Today also brought word that EverQuest's sequel is expanding. On February 21, EverQuest II: Kingdom of Sky will go on sale both via digital download and stores. Like the Prophecy of Ro, the digital version will be a $26.99 solo expansion, while the retail version will feature the expansion, EverQuest II, and a special in-game item for $29.99.

　　The second expansion for EQII, Kingdom of Sky, will add an all-new structured skill and ability achievement system and will raise the level cap for adventurer and artisans to level 70 and guilds to level 50. It will add 10 new zones, 25 new monsters, and "troves" of new items. Its plot will concern the Overrealm, a new realm of floating islands suspended at high altitudes, as well as a plot by ancient foes of Norrath to wreak havoc. The expansion's official Web site, www.kingdomofsky.com, has more details.

　　Kingdom of Sky will include a much-demanded feature--a player-versus-player combat system that will allow members of the game's opposing good and evil sides to duke it out with each other. However, EverQuesterians won't have to buy the expansion to get PVP--the functionality will be included in a free patch released in late or mid-February.