“EverQuest Legends”, a reboot of the long-running MMO franchise, will include the Kerran cat race as playable characters when it launches on 28 July. The announcement, made at San Diego Comic-Con, matters because it expands on the original 1999 game’s options while preserving its visual style and drawing on a race popular with fans.

Developer Game Jawn and publisher Daybreak are updating original Kerran models with new skins and animations for play. Kerran, who originate from Kerra Isle, were not playable in the first “EverQuest” but appeared as playable characters in “EverQuest II”; the reboot is taking a more independent approach to established lore, allowing the developers to include them directly.