EA celebrates 10 years of Ultima Online

Ten years ago this week, Richard Garriott's buggy, near-unplayable mess of a game Ultima Online debuted, and subsequently transformed the massively multiplayer online gaming space. In the years since, Ultima Online has been updated countless times, and has garnered seven full expansions. Its latest update, Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn, introduced the largest changes yet to the game when it was released in August, including a complete graphical overhaul.

In recognition of the game's 10-year anniversary, EA has announced the "Return to Britannia" initiative. Past subscribers of the game can download the free Kingdom Reborn update through Ultima Online's Web site, and then play the game gratis until October 9. EA will also be hosting a number of events during this period, including a monster hunt where players can win loot such as an ankh pendant necklace, a map of Brittania, an Ultima Online commemorative sculpture, and a virtue armor set.