According to gaming outlets, creator Richard "Lord British" Garriott is attempting to reclaim the copyright of Ultima from Electronic Arts. The publisher has owned the franchise since 1992, when it acquired developer Origin Systems, and Garriott's effort to reacquire the rights could materialize as soon as 2025.
The matter comes into focus after EA filed new trademark registrations for the series this week. Ultima stands as a cultural pillar of PC RPGs, having influenced modern titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin. From classic CRPGs to spinoffs such as Ultima Underworld and Ultima Online, the franchise left a deep mark on the evolution of genres including immersive sims and MMOs.
However, the series has remained largely dormant under EA's stewardship for years. The last Ultima-related release was Underworld Ascendant in 2018. The information remains speculative, as neither EA nor Garriott have publicly confirmed details of the alleged rights reclamation process.
