Richard Garriott
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Make My MMO: Shroud of the Vibecoders
Richard Garriott, co-founder of Shroud of the Avatar, claimed the game is now bug-free due to AI tools, a statement met with skepticism given the game's troubled history and funding methods. The article also provides updates on other crowdfunded MMOs, including Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, Embers Adrift, Elite Dangerous, and OrbusVR.
Richard Garriott claims that Shroud of the Avatar has no bugs whatsoever thanks to AI tools
Richard Garriott claims that Shroud of the Avatar has achieved zero bugs daily thanks to the implementation of AI tools in its development workflow. He stated that AI can fix bugs within an hour of discovery and is superior to human workflows, though humans are still needed for artistic judgment.
After 8 years, Ultima creator says his MMO Shroud of the Avatar finally has "zero bugs" thanks to AI
Richard Garriott, creator of Ultima, claims his MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar now has zero bugs thanks to the implementation of AI in its development process. Garriott stated that AI has significantly reduced development time and costs by fixing bugs rapidly, a stark contrast to the game's previous persistent bug issues. He acknowledges the ethical concerns surrounding AI in game development but believes its use is crucial for efficiency.
Wing Commander and Ultima are making comebacks in surprise Origin revival
Electronic Arts has announced a remaster of Wing Commander 3: Heart of the Tiger, featuring upscaled full-motion video cutscenes and 60fps gameplay for PC. Concurrently, series creator Richard Garriott is set to regain control of the Ultima intellectual property in 2027, potentially leading to new releases or re-releases. These announcements signal a revival for classic franchises originally developed by Origin Systems.
MMO Week in Review: RuneScape 4, Aion 2
This week's MMO news includes Jagex announcing RuneScape 4, which will operate alongside existing titles. Aion 2 officially launched globally, while Lord of the Rings Online delayed its fall expansion. New World's fate was lamented, and Throne and Liberty confirmed its transition back to NCsoft in November.
Richard Garriott expands on his comments about getting the copyright back to Ultima in 2027
Richard Garriott is discussing his plans to regain the copyright for the Ultima franchise in 2027, 35 years after selling Origin to Electronic Arts. While he has notified EA and negotiations are underway, EA still owns the trademark. Garriott has not specified his plans for the franchise, and his recent game ventures have had limited success.
Evening Reading - October 8, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Order of the Sinking Star and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, discussions on Phantom Blade Zero and Total War: Warhammer 3 DLC, and updates on Ultima IP rights. It also touches on Xbox's new film and TV division, Apple's upcoming event, a Cyberpunk 2077 movie in development, and Sony's AR/VR patent sales to Meta.
Games Inbox: Which 2026 video game has the best melee combat?
Readers discuss which upcoming games will feature the best melee combat, with Onimusha: Way Of The Sword and Nioh 3 being highlighted. The discussion also touches on the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 leaker, issues with Amazon's game delivery, the pricing of live service cosmetics, and the potential for dormant game franchises to be revived.
Richard Garriott to Soon Take Back Rights to the Ultima Series From EA
Richard Garriott, also known as Lord British, is set to regain the rights to the Ultima series from Electronic Arts. This development marks a significant moment for the creator of the iconic RPG franchise.
Ultima creator Richard Garriott claims he will get the IP rights back from EA in 2027
Ultima creator Richard Garriott claims he will regain the intellectual property rights to the series from Electronic Arts in 2027, citing a US copyright law that allows for rights reversion after 35 years. Garriott has indicated plans to revive the dormant franchise, which last saw a mainline entry with Ultima IX in 1999.
Richard Garriott får tillbaka upphovsrätten till Ultima nästa år
Richard Garriott will regain the copyright to the Ultima series in 2027 due to a US law allowing original creators to reclaim intellectual property 35 years after its transfer. Garriott has notified Electronic Arts, the current owner, and plans to potentially remaster old titles or create new ones.
Richard Garriott får tillbaka Ultima-varumärket nästa år
Richard Garriott is set to regain the rights to the Ultima brand in 2027 due to a U.S. copyright law that allows original owners to reclaim trademarks after 35 years. Electronic Arts, the current owner, is aware of the law and has indicated no opposition. Garriott plans to potentially re-release, remaster, or create new games in the series.
I never thought we'd get a new Ultima RPG, but now that series creator Richard Garriott is getting back the rights…
Series creator Richard Garriott is set to regain the rights to the Ultima RPG franchise from Electronic Arts as early as next year due to US copyright law. Garriott, who sold Origin Systems and the Ultima IP to EA in 1992, has initiated the process to reclaim ownership, which could lead to re-releases or sequels of the foundational RPG series.
Perfect Ten: Revisiting our last ten ‘Stormiest Future’ winners
This article revisits Massively Overpowered's past predictions for MMORPGs with 'stormy futures,' analyzing the outcomes for games like New World, Cryptic Studios' library, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, and Star Citizen. Many of the predicted 'stormy' futures materialized, with some games shutting down or facing significant challenges, while others, like World of Warcraft and Cryptic Studios, have shown resilience or recovery.
Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular's 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your…
YouTube creator Majuular has released a comprehensive 4.5-hour documentary detailing the history and influence of the MMORPG Ultima Online. The video, six months in the making, covers the game's development from its inception by Richard Garriott and Starr Long to its evolution under Raph Koster and its impact on the genre. The article highly recommends the documentary and Majuular's entire video series on the Ultima franchise.
"One of the biggest mistakes game developers make," Valve's Gabe Newell warns in an unearthed clip, is treating "genuinely entertaining" player actions as hacking
Valve boss Gabe Newell warns that a significant mistake game developers make is misinterpreting entertaining player actions as hacking. He cites the "Lord British assassination" incident in Ultima Online as an example where developers should have embraced the emergent gameplay rather than rolling back the server.
Shroud of the Avatar heralds over 2000 changes and improvements are arriving this October
Shroud of the Avatar is preparing for a major release on October 1st, featuring over 2,000 changes including a Unity engine upgrade and new server infrastructure. Despite past controversies and criticisms regarding development and corporate practices, the team is aiming for a relaunch with a planned ad campaign during the holiday season.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 573: Project Demogorgon
The Massively OP Podcast episode 573 covers SpiritVale's early access launch, Dungeons and Dragons Online's Terror of Demogorgon expansion, and the cancellations of Overwatch Stadium and Final Fantasy XIV Mobile. Hosts Bree and Justin also discuss Richard Garriott's comments on Ultima and the predictability of MMO experiences.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for Elder Scrolls Online
Microsoft's decision to lay off a significant portion of The Elder Scrolls Online team has led to further management turnover and a restructuring of the studio. This week's MMO news also covers the early access launch of SpiritVale, the cancellation of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, and discussions on lessons for Guild Wars 3.
Richard Garriott vaguely references Ultima plans, including using Shroud of the Avatar as a testbed
Richard Garriott vaguely discussed potential plans for the Ultima series during a birthday livestream, mentioning ongoing discussions about regaining copyright and hoping for more substantial news by DragonCon. He and Chris Spears of Catnip Games suggested using Shroud of the Avatar as a testbed for new Ultima concepts, while Spears also provided updates on Shroud of the Avatar's backend improvements and future episodes.