Richard Garriott is preparing to reclaim the rights to Ultima, the landmark computer role-playing series he created, from Electronic Arts in 2027.
Garriott launched the first Ultima game in 1981, beginning a series that helped establish the foundations of computer RPGs. In 1991, he sold the franchise and his studio, Origin Systems, to Electronic Arts for $30 million.
His career since then has included the short-lived MMO Tabula Rasa and a successful private-spaceflight mission. Now, after decades under EA ownership, the creator says the Ultima rights are heading back to him.
How Garriott plans to recover the Ultima copyright
During an interview, Garriott explained that he intends to use a provision of United States copyright law. The provision allows an original copyright holder to reclaim rights 35 years after a transfer, provided the current owner receives written notice at least one year beforehand.
Garriott contacted Electronic Arts in April 2026. The company has raised no objections, so he expects to regain control of the property in 2027.
The development is significant for anyone interested in the history of RPGs and the preservation of classic computer games. It also raises the possibility that Ultima could receive new attention from its original creator.
Could new Ultima games follow?
Ultima became particularly familiar to computer RPG players during the 1990s. Its online offshoot, Ultima Online, earned a strong following and became known for its detailed player economy and social systems, influencing the development of online role-playing games.
For Australian players exploring the medium’s history, the series remains an important example of how role-playing systems grew from computer screens into persistent shared worlds. Its design ideas also help explain why classic RPGs continue to attract interest across modern arcade and gaming news.
The famous Lord British incident
One of Ultima Online’s best-known moments occurred on 8 August 1997 during a beta stress test. Garriott entered the game as Lord British, the ruler of Britannia who appears throughout the Ultima series, to speak with a crowd of testers.
A player called Rainz knew that an unexpected server crash had removed Lord British’s scripted invulnerability. Rainz used a fire spell to kill Garriott’s character. The development team then summoned a horde of demons, which slaughtered the surrounding bystanders.
What happens to Ultima next?
Garriott has not announced a detailed plan for the property. He said he still needs to work out what to do with the copyright once it returns to him.
“At the very least, it means I could re-release the earlier Ultimas, but it also means I could sequel them,” Garriott said.
That leaves several possibilities, including renewed releases of the early games or a direct sequel. The series has a reputation for experimentation, although the creative and technical environment of gaming has changed considerably since its original run.
Garriott’s later achievements suggest that the challenge is unlikely to discourage him. In 2008, he spent 12 days aboard the International Space Station after his work on Tabula Rasa and his broader career in game development.
Whether the next chapter becomes a re-release, a sequel or something else, the rights transfer could give one of computer role-playing’s defining creators a fresh opportunity to shape Ultima. Readers interested in bringing classic gaming experiences home can also browse arcade machines, explore compact bartop arcades or learn more with the arcade machine buying guide.
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