Announced:
Shipped: November 2, 2004
Previous Expansion: UO: Age of Shadows
Next Expansion: UO: Mondain’s Legacy
Preceded By: UO: 7th Anniversary Edition

Official Description:
Discover an empire in the newest expansion pack to the worldwide phenomenon Ultima Online. Journey to a land of exotic monsters, dramatic landscapes, and fierce but noble warriors. Become a Samurai and learn new skills like Honorable Execution and Lightning Strike, or join the ranks of the Ninja elite and master the deadly arts of Mirror Image and Smoke Bomb. If you choose, you can set down roots in this new land and build a home with new Japanese-themed building options. Expand your legacy in a game world like no other, Ultima Online.

Ultima Online: Samurai Empire marks a new era in the legendary online RPG. It expands the Ultima world to include a new exotic land to explore and two deadly professions to master. If you choose, you can set down roots in this new land and build a home with new Japanese-themed building options. Expand your legacy in a game world like no other!

Official Site: EA.com/official/uo/samurai/ (USA)

Developers:
>> UO: Samurai Empire Development Team

Notes:
- Introduced more land, the Tokuno Islands, which loosely fit into Ultima canon. Housing was available in some of the new areas, including in-town.
- Added the class Ninja
- Added the class Samurai
- Japanese/Asian-themed building tiles
- Guild options expanded
- New monsters, including several humanoids
- Japanese-themed armor, weapons, and clothing.
- Soulstone included with some pre-orders.
- Real roof options added to customized housing.

Miscellaneous Information:
Official Treasures of Tokuno FAQ (From UO.com)

Articles about Ultima Online: Samurai Empire
- MMORPG.com Interview - November 24, 2004 (Interview with Jonathan “Oaks” LeCraft)

MMORPG.COM: What was the reasoning behind choosing a permutation of feudal Japan as the setting for the newest expansion?
LeCraft: There were a variety of reasons, not the least of which were the hints of Japanese culture already present in the game, like the katana. Going back all the way to Ultima I, the Land of the Feudal Lords existed and eventually disappeared…

We also did focus tests with many groups of gamers, both Ultima Online players and not, to see what themes and professions resonated best for our next expansion. The Japanese theme was only one of several possible choices. Overwhelmingly, the Samurai was the most popular, and just felt right as an addition to medieval Europe.

MMORPG.COM: What do you see as the future of Ultima Online? Will Britannia see further game expansions?
LeCraft: We see Ultima Online continuing to introduce and enhance features that make it unique among games of its genre, while respecting the investment of our longstanding community. You will most definitely see expansions for Ultima Online in the future.

MMORPG.COM: There have been two sequels to Ultima Online that have been canceled in production over the past few years. Will players ever see an Ultima Online 2 (for lack of a better name)?
LeCraft: We’ve already begun work on the next major product for UO. You could say that Samurai Empire was just a warm up for the new team (we just moved from Texas to EA’s headquarters in California.) This is one of the finest teams I’ve had the pleasure of working with during my four and a half years on UO - I’m already looking forward to what I know we’ll accomplish.

- PC.GameZone.com Interview - November, 2004 (Interview with Jonathan “Oaks” LeCraft)

The introduction of an Asian culture into UO was an idea taken from both our players and Ultima history. Our players, both current and potential, were very receptive to the idea of an Asian-themed expansion. It also worked in well with Ultima’s rich history. A continent known as “The Land of the Feudal Lords” was thought to be destroyed in Ultima I, now rediscovered with Samurai Empire and known as the Tokuno Islands.