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Richard Garriott, the creator of the influential Ultima role-playing series, is set to regain the intellectual property rights from Electronic Arts. Garriott originally sold his studio, Origin Systems, and the franchise to the publisher for $30 million.
The reclamation process utilizes a provision in U.S. copyright law that permits original creators to recover rights 35 years after a transfer. Garriott provided the required written notice to Electronic Arts in April 2026. As the company has not contested the move, the rights are scheduled to revert to him in 2027.
Regarding his future plans, Garriott stated he is currently determining how to utilize the property. He noted that he could potentially re-release classic titles or develop new sequels for the series, which famously set genre standards through the social systems and economy of Ultima Online.
While the gaming landscape has evolved significantly since the series' inception, Garriott remains optimistic about the transition. He previously gained notoriety for his role as Lord British, whose avatar was famously assassinated by a player during a 1997 stress test for the franchise's MMO spinoff.
