The old-school MMO Ultima On-line has been round for greater than 27 years, and producer Bonnie Armstrong has been engaged on it for 26 of them. Earlier this week, although, Armstrong introduced that she’s stepping down from the position, though she’s not leaving it behind fully.
“I’m writing to all of you to tell you that I’m stepping down as producer. Greg Havlusch aka Kyronix shall be taking up as producer and can drive the roadmap, the entire techniques, and content material within the recreation,” Armstrong wrote (by way of MassivelyOP). Regardless of leaving the producer position, Armstrong stated she’ll proceed working with UO’s recreation masters and occasion moderators.
“I’m certain all of you’re curious as to why am I stepping down as producer,” Armstrong continued. “I’ve been the luckiest individual alive to have the ability to work with the entire gamers and the sensible inventive folks I’ve labored with current and previous. However it’s time for me to take pleasure in a while off to work in my greenhouse, play with puppies, and snuggle with my hubby.
“On a private observe, I wish to say the final 26 years engaged on UO and interacting with a number of the most inventive, enjoyable, and passionate gamers I’ve ever recognized has been a spotlight for me. This has been a tough resolution however one that’s good for me.”
Armstong has been with Ultima On-line all through its typically turbulent historical past, from its roots in Origin Methods via Digital Arts, Mythic Leisure, and Broadsword On-line Video games, which took over improvement after EA closed Mythic in 2014. It is a hell of a run by any measure, for each Armstrong and Ultima On-line itself, and a lot of the responses to her departure announcement are optimistic and supportive.
Getting into the position of producer shall be designer Greg “Kyronix” Havlusch, himself a longtime veteran of the sport: He received his begin as an occasion moderator in 2008 and have become a designer in 2012.
“Like a lot of you, I’ve spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in Britannia, residing in a world born of mystic arts and historical sorcery,” Havlusch wrote in his personal message. “When the chance to work on Ultima On-line grew to become obtainable, I jumped on the likelihood. Having had the pleasure of being a part of the UO dev group and creating adventures for all of you over the past 13 years has been the trip of a lifetime!
“None of this is able to have been doable with out the belief and confidence of Bonnie Armstrong, and for that, I’m so grateful. She plucked me from obscurity and gave me the prospect to grow to be an occasion moderator and later a designer. Her dedication, longevity, and love for this group are one thing hardly ever seen within the videogame business.”
Regardless of being round for greater than a quarter-century, and its deep dedication to far-from-modern sensibilities, Ultima On-line is “grilling, chilling, and nonetheless thriving all these years later,” we stated in 2023. And authentic Ultima creator Richard Garriott nonetheless needs to do extra, with each an “up to date” Ultima On-line and a brand new singleplayer recreation within the sequence. There’s only one minor hitch: He must “purchase EA” first.
