Ultima Online turns 25

Just a few days ago, the classic WoW servers were updated to Wrath of the Lich King, and later this week we learned that the long-awaited Dragonflight update will arrive on November 28th. On the other hand, Overwatch 2 will be released this month, as well as other titles where online is a key element. And to a greater or lesser extent, i.eWe are all indebted to Ultima Online.

Ultima Online, in 1997, was not the first massively multiplayer role-playing game, other titles had previously evoked a similar scenario, but the creation of Origin Systems (which was later acquired by Electronic Arts) was by far the most ambitious yet. Both the time spent on its development (more than two years) and the economic investment in it made it an extremely risky bet, but it was based on the success of the Ultima saga and the good impressions brought by its presentation at E3. in 1996, by which time the game had been in development for over a year.

Ultima Online marked its launch on September 30, 1997 a revolution in online role-playing optionsfrom building (obviously the previous purchase of land) on the common map, the ability to produce and sell a large amount of goods and manufactured goods, creating an economy in the game, the ability to steal from other players … all this may sound like something very common today, but ​​​​in those days, in an online title designed to be played by tens of thousands of people over the internethe was revolutionary.

Y it was also revolutionary in its business model. Today, monthly subscription to online games is also something we are more than used to. Whether in titles in which it is only possible to play through the cash register, or in others in which it is not mandatory, but it represents a more than substantial change in the gaming experience, Ultima Online was a title that set a precedent and therefore, one of the pillars , upon which the online gaming ecosystem as we know it today is based.

Its launch was an absolute success and no less than 100,000 players signed up in the first six monthsand with peaks reaching 250,000. This success was key to both EA’s acquisition of Origin Systems and other developers taking notice and entering the nascent market.

Over the years, Electronic Arts shut down Origin Systems (yes, they actually recycled the name to use in their online store) and Ultima Online isn’t as big of a hit as it was back then, but, 25 years after its launch, it still survives and coexists on the Internet with its most advanced students, among which World of Warcraft undoubtedly stands out, but among which we also find other titles from Elder Scroll Online to Star Wars: The Old Republic. Happy Ultima Online!