Richard Garriott, creator of the Ultima series, stated that he notified EA in April 2026 of his intention to reclaim the series' copyright. EA currently still holds the relevant rights, and both parties are discussing next steps, with the future direction of the series yet to be determined.
In an interview, Garriott explained that under U.S. copyright law, original copyright holders can take action to reclaim their rights after a certain number of years have passed since the transfer. He stated that EA has responded, acknowledging awareness of the relevant rules. Current developments are based solely on Garriott's statements, and the copyright transfer has not yet been completed.
Origin Systems, co-founded by Garriott and his family, was sold to EA in 1992, transferring the rights to Ultima along with it. Since then, he has continued to be involved with the series' role-playing games and Ultima Online.
Regarding potential options after reclaiming the copyright, Garriott stated that at the very least, early titles could be re-released, and sequels could also be considered. These remain future possibilities rather than officially announced plans for remakes, remasters, or new titles; specific arrangements will depend on further discussions.