Bill Trost created the lore and major characters of Norrath, including the protagonist Firiona Vie. He worked alongside programmers Brad McQuaid and Steve Clover to build the game world.
EverQuest launched on the 16th of March 1999 with modest expectations from Sony executives. Ten thousand active subscribers appeared within just twenty-four hours after release.
Thirty-one expansions have been released since the initial launch date through December 2025. The first expansion Shadows of Luclin arrived in 2001 and updated player character models significantly.
GameSpot named EverQuest its 1999 Game of the Year shortly after release. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences awarded Online Game of the Year status in 2000 and Sony Online Entertainment received a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award in 2007.
Sony banned real-world sales of in-game items on eBay starting in 2001 due to hacking concerns. Companies began creating powerful characters specifically to resell them for large sums of money.