Ultima Online
| Ultima Online | |
|---|---|
Original cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Origin Systems (1997–2004) Electronic Arts (2004–2006) Mythic Entertainment (2006–2014) Broadsword (2014–) |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Director(s) | Starr Long |
| Producer(s) | Richard Garriott |
| Designer(s) | Raph Koster |
| Programmer(s) | Rick Delashmit Scott Phillips |
| Composer(s) | Kirk Winterrowd Joe Basquez Hal Milton |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Linux |
| Release | September 24, 1997 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Ultima Online (UO) is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released on September 24, 1997 by Origin Systems.
Set in the Ultima universe, it is known for its extensive player versus player combat system. Since its release, it has added eight expansion packs, a booster pack, and dozens of free content updates. The release of Kingdom Reborn in 2007 brought a new game engine with upgraded visuals.
In preparation for the launch of the Stygian Abyss expansion, support for the existing client was discontinued to optimize the patching procedure. As a replacement, a revised rendition of the Kingdom Reborn client emerged, rebranded as the "Enhanced Client." This revamped version was unveiled as an open beta in July 2009, coinciding with the release of Stygian Abyss. The "Enhanced Client" is a blend of some of the 3D models and UI from Kingdom Reborn and the 2D art used in the Classic Client. The Enhanced Client and the Classic Client are the two official clients as of 2024.