Classic Ultima Online
Produced by: Shattered Moon
Website: Classic Ultima Online
A reworked — and now open-source — release of Classic Ultima Online (both the game client and the server software), released to mark the occasion of Ultima 4’s 40th anniversary.
Source code for Classic Ultima Online (both the game client and the server software), released to mark the occasion of Ultima 4’s 40th anniversary.
Files to install the locally-playable (that is: offline) client and server for Classic Ultima Online.
This promising project brings Ultima 4 into the realm of online gaming!
In its initial incarnation, Shattered Moon built both the game client and server which, when paired with the Ultima 4 game files on your hard drive (a free copy of Ultima 4 can be obtained via GOG), allowed you to take on the Quest of the Avatar…with your friends. Or with complete strangers!
Sadly, the only public server was taken offline toward the end of 2016. Concurrent with this, Shattered Moon reworked both the client and server for the game to allow for local, offline play, so the experience of Classic Ultima Online was not lost entirely…but further development on the project ceased.
As of mid-2025, Shattered Moon briefly resumed working on the project, and expanded its support to include the first three Ultima games, as well as a plethora of additional official and fan-made tilesets. However, as of September of that year (not coincidentally, on the 40th anniversary of Ultima 4’s launch), Shattered made the decision to open-source the project and step away again.
To install the server and client, first run rum_server.exe, and then launch rum_client.exe to open the game client. If you’re upgrading or re-installing the server, be sure to backup the player.db file, and use it to replace the new player.db file created during server setup.
Once you’ve installed and launched Classic Ultima Online, you will be able to create a character — via the traditional Ultima 4 character creation sequence — and you will begin in the town appropriate to the character class you end up with. If you want a bit of a visual treat, make use of the F2 and F3 keys! And, if you want to play through Ultima 1, 2, or 3 — assuming you have the original game files on your hard drive and have configured Classic Ultima Online to see these — be sure to visit Lord British and ask about the past.
I know this is a Necrobump from hell, but I was wondering if people play this at all or if there are other shards / servers out there? This was by far the best Ultima of the series (Though V gives it a good run for it’s money!) and I’d really like to see how it plays out in a Multiplayer framework.
this looks quite cool, I really like the idea but yeah this server isint verry populated
Aye…I have to post something about that. Thanks for the reminder.
I like what I see! And I agree, this would be more fun if it were more populated. Maybe you should talk to the creators of EUO about advertising this application on their site – you’d have to think there are lots of Ultima fans there.
So what are the “plans” for “enhancing” Ultima IV into a multiplayer environment like this? I mean is it just going to be every man for himself searching for the runes and the mantras to become avatars, any thoughts on teamwork involved, side quests etc?
The September-October 2011 update is now available on the website.
In response to Daltxcolstfan Dragon, the multiplayer environment does indeed make it so that every man is for himself. Side quests have been added so that each person has to get a rune carved, but that’s about the only change. I don’t think teamwork is necessary, but definitely handy in some places. Mage style characters can help with wind changes and field dispelling, etc. But the game has been reworked where necessary to make soloing the entire thing achievable.
Thanks for the update, Shattered. I’ll get some news up in the next day or two!
Played this for like 2 years i think very early in the effort, i remember having to ask to have a house and the people were totally cool.