Developer BioWare has officially announced Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar, a new addition to its popular Ultima franchise. This free-to-play RPG will be hitting PC and iPad by the end of this year.
Based on the classic Ultima IV, this game will offer online group play as well as single-player mode options. From whatever little information that is out now, it seems the title will have Lady British as a substitute for the earlier, Lord British character. Players will have to accept the tests she throws at them and save the land of Britannia. The Virtues from the earlier parts of the series will play a significant role in this one too.
“There’s a fundamental shift underway in how gamers play and pay for games, and Electronic Arts is a leader in providing new business models and new ways to consume content. With Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar, we’re excited to give gamers the opportunity to play a high quality game with their friends anytime, anywhere, on both iPad and PC,” remarked Ray Muzyka, General Manager of EA’s BioWare Label and Co-Founder of BioWare.
A just system founded on the eight virtues will grant players bonuses once they perform an action based on the virtue. For example, with the sacrifice virtue, gamers in the higher levels can lower their levels temporarily and help out those caught in the lower levels to cross a dungeon. Through this act, they will receive bonuses and grow in that Virtue. EA is currently showcasing this game at the Comic-Con International festival. Fans attending the event can grab a chance to play it currently.
Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar release date is yet under wraps. Players can enroll for the future closed beta through its official website.