Richard Garriott says he's getting the Ultima rights back from EA in 2027
Richard Garriott will soon get the Ultima rights back and is already planning what to do with the series afterward. The British-born American game designer, entrepreneur, and space tourist played a major role in establishing the CRPG genre during the home computer era. Now, the man behind the Lord British... Read Entire Article
Richard Garriott, the renowned game designer and space tourist, recently announced his plans to reclaim the IP rights to the iconic Ultima series from Electronic Arts. This comeback comes as part of a unique US copyright law that allows the original rights holder to reassert ownership of their intellectual property 35 years after selling it.
Garriott first sold Origin Systems, which included the Ultima series, to EA in 1992. Ultima IX, the last mainline installment of the series, was released in 1999. After this, attempts to revive the franchise, like the free-to-play Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar in 2013, were unsuccessful.
In April this year, Garriott contacted EA, who acknowledged his request and affirmed their adherence to US copyright law. Garriott confirmed that he will officially regain ownership of the Ultima series in 2027. During this year, he is contemplating his next move, which could involve re-releasing earlier Ultima games on modern platforms or launching a brand new Ultima experience. He is even open to collaborating with EA again to ensure the franchise's future in the gaming industry.
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