Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn got a mention at Gamasutra, Britannia Reborn With Ultima Online Revamp.

Following recent news that the existing Ultima Online team would begin working with Electronic Arts’ newly acquired studio Mythic (Dark Age of Camelot) in order to “forge Britannia’s future,” EA today announced a significant upgrade to its long running MMO.

Tentatively titled Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn, the upgrade is described by EA as “a complete make-over,” and will feature a new graphics engine, new user interface, and new content on top of nine years of existing content which will be further enhanced as well. In addition, Kingdom Reborn will add a new playable race, though no other specific information was released at this time.

I mention this, not because of the angle that UO is starting to get more positive press coverage (although there is that), but I would like to say that I don’t think the acquisition of Mythic had anything to do with UO: Kingdom Reborn. The screenshots - one shows a few months old, which when you look at the timeframe, there is not enough time for Mythic/EA to have whipped up a brand new client for UO. As we have stated in the past, we believed that the signs were pointing to a new client, even before the Mythic acquisition.

I think that what you are seeing instead, is a culmination of a new direction that EA is taking - a revamp of UO, the acquisition of Mythic, etc., and it just so happens that some things are close together date wise. Unfortunately, those who aren’t closely following UO may not see it that way - they see “new client, Mythic just acquired, hmmm, must be Mythic’s doing”.