The creator of Ultima is reportedly reclaiming the series' rights back from EA, and it could happen as soon as next year

The Creator of Ultima May Reclaim the Series’ Rights from EA as Soon as 2027

Ultima is one of PC gaming's most important cultural touchstones, with Richard 'Lord British' Garriott's roleplaying series blazing trails across numerous genres. The mainline CRPGs received critical acclaim for their rich, dynamic worlds, while spinoffs like Ultima Underworld and Ultima Online were key texts in the evolution of immersive sims and MMOs. Ultima's influence still echoes through to today, with Ultima 7 being a major inspiration for Larian Studios when developing Divinity: Original Sin and Baldur's Gate 3.

Yet it's been a long time since Ultima itself was a going concern. The keys to the series have been in the pocket of Electronic Arts since 1992, when Garriott sold developer Origin Systems to the publisher. While some good Ultima games were developed afterwards—most notably Ultima Online—the series has largely been left dormant by EA, barring a couple of ill-fated experiments like 2010's Lord of Ultima and 2013's Ultima Forever. But it's possible that may soon change, as control of the series could return to Garriott in the near future.

This was reportedly explained by Garriott himself to Inside Games' Brian Gaar. Recently, EA filed new trademarks related to the Ultima series, prompting Gaar to call Garriott to find out what, if anything, Garriott knew about this. According to Gaar, Garriott stated that he has repeatedly attempted to revive Ultima while the series has been under EA's purview. "Every decade or so, I tried to work with EA on a revival of Ultima. They always seemed interested enough to start talking, then abandoned talks just as quickly."

Now, though, Garriott is reclaiming the copyright to the series back from EA. 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. "And so, I have been waiting… finally, the time has come!" Garriot told Inside Gaming.

The important caveat here is that Garriott is reclaiming the copyright to Ultima, not the trademark. EA still owns that, so Garriott couldn't make a game simply titled "Ultima". What he could do, though, is make something with a slightly different name like "Lord British's Ultima", which appears to be his plan. "Lord British's Ultima will regain all the copyrights of my original work," Garriott said to Inside Games. "What it will become is the next challenge."

There's arguably never been a better time for an Ultima revival. Larian and other developers like Owlcat have proved that hyper-detailed CRPGs can be monstrously successful. Whether or not that aligns with Garriott's plans remains to be seen, however. Garriott may reveal more details at this year's Dragon Con, which he is attending. By then, he hopes to have "more thoughts together" about what reclaiming the rights to Ultima will mean.

What Could a New Ultima Game Look Like?

Garriott's vision for the series’ next chapter is still unclear, but the potential for innovation is vast. With the rise of open-world RPGs, deep narrative systems, and player-driven storytelling, a modern Ultima could push the genre in exciting new directions. Here are a few possibilities:

• A return to the classic turn-based mechanics that defined the original series, with modern graphics and storytelling.
• A multiplayer component similar to Ultima Online, but updated for today's gaming landscape.
• A sandbox-style world where players can explore, build, and shape the environment in ways that reflect the series’ legacy.
• A reimagined story that honors the original lore while introducing new characters and conflicts.

As the gaming industry continues to embrace nostalgia and remastering, the prospect of a new Ultima is both thrilling and symbolic. It would represent not just a return to a beloved franchise, but a celebration of the pioneering spirit that defined the early days of RPGs. Whether the game will live up to the legacy of the original series remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the world is watching.