Ultima Online Shards Explained
Is Ultima Online Still Running? Official Shards vs Free Shards
Ultima Online is still running as a live official MMORPG, decades after its original launch, but it's not the same experience it once was. Today, there is a fine line to be drawn between official, publisher-controlled shards and the scores of free emulator shards that independent players set up.
Official Game, Official Access
The live game is still under Electronic Arts in the Ultima pages, which still list "Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss" under the support zone.
The Endless Journey is the free official entry point -- described on the game’s wiki as no-subscription required, though with access that may be limited. These accounts may be created on all shards, including the Test Center, with a limit of 2 characters per shard, except Siege Perilous and Mugen. Those allow only 1 character per account.
But their no-subscription access doesn't mean the game is free for all to play with access to everything. That still requires a paid subscription.
What an Official Shard Is
The shards run by Broadsword and approved by EA are the foundation of the live Ultima Online experience.
What Free Shards Are
A second ecosystem of emulator shards sprang up alongside the official ones. None of these are official publisher-controlled environments.
Yet the development of the emulator took the idea of private shards into a more modern era.
What a Returning Player Should Expect
Returning players have the option of free access to production shards' services under the Endless Journey account mode, which is an entry point to the Ultima Online universe, but not equivalently to the full game.
Production shards support both Classic and Enhanced, and Broadsword has also sanctioned the browser-based ClassicUO web client for official shards.
Finally, if you're thinking of really diving back, get used with the rules of engagement first. Current player counts are not officially published. To recapture the original feeling, some players prefer free shards.
Final Thought for Returning Players
Ultimately, this is the main thing: live shards and emulated shards have different things to offer the returning Ultima player. You have official shard access available under the Endless Journey tier, but if you're looking for a place more in keeping with the original path, then look towards the emulator-based free shards instead.
