An update on the ProSiebenSat.1 transition was posted late this morning on the EQII forums:

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and ProSiebenSat.1 Games Group will be furthering their partnership with the launch of EverQuest® II on or around June 20, 2013. As we approach the transition, we want to clarify some final points. We have put together an updated FAQ that further addresses some of the most common concerns and questions from our online player community.

Importantly, we want to address up front the most common concern that players have had, which is server accessibility. SOE and ProSiebenSat.1 Games have determined that it is in the best interest of the players and the community to allow players to continue to play on any server regardless of where they live. That means that European players will be able to play on U.S. servers and vice versa.

Again, we appreciate you sharing your thoughts and opinions with us. Your feedback is valuable to us in the ongoing effort to make your experience with SOE and PSG more enjoyable. We love our European players and look forward to our community of gamers growing through this partnership!

Thank you!

Continue after the jump for SOE's FAQ or hop over to the official forum feedback thread.

The US EverQuest II servers will come down on Tuesday, June 18, at 7:00 am Pacific Time for an update.  This will be during the announced SOE-wide maintenance period, so expect a two-hour downtime. 

The EU EQ2 server downtime is Tuesday, June 18, at 9:00 pm Pacific Time, and the expected downtime is two hours. 

Patch notes are below.

Each year SOE Live (formerly Fan Faire) features "live quests" for attendees to take part in. These quests typically run two hours and involve teamwork, roleplay, trivia, ingenuity, and lots of fun. Expect to do crazy things such as be guided through a maze blindfolded, roleplay an orc doing grunt work, answer a crossword puzzle about your beloved game, or say "Mithaniel Marr" with six or more jumbo-sized marshmallows in your mouth (yes Kander, I still haven't forgotten that day!).

The themes change each year, as do the tasks in the quests. The tasks will be revealed when the quest commences, but SOE announced the various times and themes earlier today. Continue after the jump for the full live quest schedule!

Today Holly "Windstalker" Longdale published her latest EverQuest II Producer's Letter, which details Game Update 67 - Darkness Dawns.  Highlights include:

• The continuing Cobalt Scar story (click here for Holly's spoiler)
• Fabled dungeons reusing content from Desert of Flames - Clefts of Rujark, The Djinn Masters Prism, Scornfeather’s Roost, and Pedestal of Sky
• Character Advancement Templates - AA presets and the ability to save multiple builds
• Three New Contested Avatar Raids - Prexus, Solusek Ro, and Drinal
• Arena of the Gods - Challenge the avatars on YOUR schedule!
• New Tradeskill Apprentice "goodies"
• New PvP rewards

Darkness Dawns (GU67) is slated to hit live servers July 30, 2013.

Also mentioned is the Summer Gold Rush promotion. Staring June 21 and running through September 21 existing and new Gold members will get access to a 4-hour daily spell that gives you +15% Coin Loot, +10% Experience, and +5% Mount Speed while it’s active!

Read all of Holly's letter on the Official Forums.

Earlier today, Sony Online Entertainment revealed a teaser website for EverQuest Next. It has little information aside from mentioning that the worldwide debut will be at this year's SOE Live on Friday, August 2, 2013. Along with the website there are several new EQ Next social media accounts that fans can follow for tidbits of information:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EverQuest_Next
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverQuestNext
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/116076382061631523609/posts
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/EverQuestNext
• Twitch TV: http://www.twitch.tv/EverQuestNext/

Also make sure to tune in to SOE's Twitch TV channel on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 3:30pm PDT (6:30pm EDT) for the EverQuest franchise E3 live broadcast!

UPDATE: The recording of this video is now available on Twitch TV.

The US EverQuest 2 Servers will come down on Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00 am Pacific Time for an update. The expected downtime is one hour. The EU EQ2 Servers will come down on Tuesday, June 11, at 9:00 pm Pacific Time, and the expected downtime is two hours.

Patch notes are below.

The US EverQuest 2 Servers will come down on Friday, June 7, at 7:00 am Pacific Time for an update. The expected downtime is one hour. The EU EQ2 Servers will come down at 9:00 pm Pacific Time, and the expected downtime is two hours.

Patch notes are available below.

The US EverQuest 2 Servers will come down on Tuesday, June 4, at 7:00 am Pacific Time for an update. The expected downtime is one hour. The EU EQ2 Servers will come down on Tuesday, June 4, at 9:00 pm Pacific Time, and the expected downtime is two hours.

All U.S. servers will come down on Wednesday, May 29, at 7:00 am Pacific Time for an update. The expected downtime is one hour. EU servers will come down on Thursday, May 30, at 5:00 am London Time, with an estimated downtime of two hours.

The full patch notes are available below.

Holly "Windstalker" Longdale made this announcement:

Double XP weekend -- all types including guild XP - and Vault Sale starts tomorrow [Friday] at noon PDT and runs through Monday, 11:59pm PDT!

Enjoy doubled adventuring, alternate advancement, crafting, and guild experience. The bonus weekend will run from 12pm (noon) Pacific Time on Friday, May 24 and will conclude at 11:59pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 27.