EverQuest rogue server Heroes’ Journey has been under threat this past summer following Daybreak’s lawsuit to get the server shut down, and as we covered over the weekend, the judge in that case finally granted Daybreak’s request for a preliminary injunction that would take the server out of commission during the trial, owing to the likelihood of the studio’s prevailing in the eventual case and the “irreparable harm” incurred by leaving the server up.

When the order came down, many Heroes Journey players were already making their farewell, and we’re told that there was a big farewell party in-game on Sunday night too. But when the server owners/defendants in the case didn’t immediately make a statement, it led some gamers to keep hold of a tiny wisp of hope. But nope.

“While we did everything in our power to keep THJ alive, The Heroes’ Journey will be shutting down in one hour,” the devs told Discord fans last night. “Though we may lose THJ, we did not lose everything. We set out years ago to create something amazing- and we did. No one can take that journey and the positive impact it has made on so many away. We have learned and honed many skills, met many incredible people, and made so many amazing friends along the way.”

Left unmentioned is how much money they made along the way, at the expense of Daybreak and the emulator players who now have nothing to show for it; during the bond hearing, the judge said the group was making as much as $100,000 a month from this rogue server.

Also left unsaid is whether the emu-runners plan to continue fighting in court in spite of the judge’s assertion that Daybreak would likely prevail, though it looks like no. The Discord, including that message, was wiped overnight and renamed to Legend’s Rest, and the subreddit is currently locked up tight.

Jeffrey Butler, a former EverQuest developer who had spoken up in court filings in support of THJ, announced late last night that he would be canceling his Daybreak accounts following the closure of the rogue server. Butler is currently working on an AI-driven metaverse crypto blockchain NFT MMO called Avalon.

Further reading for those who need a longer recap of the drama:
• EverQuest rogue server Heroes’ Journey formally closes following Daybreak’s court injunction • Daybreak wins preliminary injunction against EverQuest emulator The Heroes Journey • Heroes Journey emu devs have fired back in the EverQuest emulator lawsuit saga • Daybreak says The Heroes Journey emulator directly harmed EverQuest’s finances and playerbase • One of the EverQuest emulators is back with an official agreement with Daybreak – but it’s pretty restrictive • Judge approves order mandating EverQuest emu The Heroes Journey halt content and put profits in escrow • Daybreak is chasing EverQuest emulator operators from The Heroes Journey in court Source: Discord. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!