RetroFed
The creator of Ultima is reportedly reclaiming the series' rights back from EA, and it could happen as soon as next year
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The original was posted on /r/pcmasterrace by /u/No_Durian_5626 on 2026-06-22 11:03:08+00:00.
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SludgehammerBased on his recent projects I’m guessing the next Ultima game is gonna involve NFTs and/or a macropayment online store.
Agent_KaryoGarriot did attempt to launch a scheme built around NFT fraud, but it never launched:
And his last MMO “Shroud of the Avatar” did sell land for several thousands dollars. They were never able to reach the scope of the Star Citizen run by Chis Roberts.
Indie CRPGs that mimic the style of Ultima would be one’s best bet for a solid experience.
I’m sure EA will find a way to sell him the rights one microtransaction at a time.
Washedupcynic
Garriot comes off as a more annoying version of Chris Roberts (and I find Chris Roberts to be very annoying).
I also found the whole Lord British thing extremely off-putting (Roberts has a similar thing where he wrote himself in as the saviour of mankind in Star Citizen lore), like aggressively so. Although I can see how it would be less of an issue in the heyday of the Ultima series.
AllNewTypeFace“Lord British” is the most American cognomen possible
I would love a new, good Ultima but I don’t hold out much hope.
Definitely not from Garriot.
I would argue EA probably has a higher chance of releasing a good new Ultima game than Garriot.
Time to rewatch spoony’s series on the Ultima games.
TheKingBeeI’ll check them out, I like Majuular’s ongoing series on the games.
This is thanks to a rule in US copyright law which allows creators (or their heirs) to reclaim a copyrighted work after a period of 35 years. Since Garriott sold the Ultima rights to EA in 1992, this means he can reclaim those rights in 2027.
TrackinDaKrakenThere’s still time.
Also, fuck EA.
SeductiveTortoiseBut use protection. We don’t want it to procreate!
If he got ahold of it and worked with someone like Larian, I’d have hope. But the last thing he was working on, was an NFT MMO. The last game he worked on “Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues” has… mixed reviews on Steam.
I loved UO back in the day. But, things have changed since then and we have far more options in terms of games. A lot of games back in the day, had a lot of tedious mechanics that just weren’t fun.
With MMOs it turns out the creators of the game actually have very little control over whether or not youll enjoy yourself. I have incredible memories of a F2P MMO with obvious P2W mechanics, and have nothing but bitter memories from WoW, the world-renowned household name thats practically become the face of the genre.
I remember Glen Frey of the Eagles arguing this in front of Congress but I had no idea it passed.
This needs to become a revolution for workers. The architect that designed Glen Frey’s mansion needs to terminate the copyright and take back ownership.
The architect [that] designed Glen Frey’s mansion needs to terminate the copyright and take back ownership.
Taking back the rights doesn’t take back the units.
The arch who designed Glen Frey’s house can take back the rights to the plans, but can’t take the house itself – no more than Nickelback can demand the return of all 20 CDs sold in their lifetime even if they own the creative rights to the music on them.
The architect, though, can re-use those plans if Rick Astley wanted the identical mansion.
amniotic druidUltimate online is still by far the game where I have my fondest memories. I could really go for another round of that…
I loved UO when I was a kid, but I am not sure I could ever have the patience and dedication needed for such a game these days. Still though, so many fond memories from the Europa and Drachenfels servers. Would be amazing to relive, but can by brain handle it these days?
I don’t doubt I’d get the brain to handle the load or die trying… Somehow the dedication in UO felt more rewarding than current systems. Lemme do 1000000 potions to level alchemy and bake 100000 breads…. it was so open.
It really was something else. I never quite got into the crafting, but going to the cities to strike up conversation with the smiths to get my gear repaired or other services I needed from the people playing crafters was an experience I’ve never really seen anywhere else. Everything and everyone had their place in that game world.
I love reading about the assassination of Lord British right at the end of the beta before a player wipe was about to happen.
If I were to grasp for a level of gaming hell deeper than EA, it’d be Richard Garriott. By several floors.
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