Electronic Arts has just announced the permanent suspension of the Ultima X: Odyssey MMORPG project.  They have decided it is in the best interest of the franchise to focus their efforts in other directions.  Here is the official release from Chris "Binky" Launius:

Greetings Ultima X: Odyssey Community, I wanted to give you a status update on Ultima X: Odyssey. We've decided that in order to focus more resources on upcoming Ultima Online projects, we will permanently suspend the development of Ultima X: Odyssey. We understand that you may be disappointed by this news, but let me assure you that this decision is in the best interest of the franchise. Members of the UXO development team will be moved to other Ultima Online projects, including an upcoming expansion pack that is due out this winter, as well as another unannounced project. The overwhelming response to our recently released 7th Anniversary Edition and upcoming expansion pack convinced us to focus more of our development efforts on the future of UO. There are some amazing things in store, and I have never been more excited about what I'm seeing in development for Ultima Online. "I'd like to thank the fans for their support of Ultima X: Odyssey. It's that kind of passion that has fueled Ultima Online's success for seven years and will continue to drive it for years into the future," said David Yee, Producer of Ultima X: Odyssey. I have attached the post from David Yee (which will live here: http://www.eagames.com/redesign/games/pccd/uxo/home.jsp) for your review. Thank you for your support. I'll see you in Britannia! Chris "Binky" Launius Online Community Manager All Things Ultima

The following statement has also been made by David "InQWis" Yee, the Producer of UX:O:

Dear Ultima X: Odyssey community members, As of today, development on Ultima X: Odyssey has ended. We feel that Ultima Online is where we need to focus our online efforts and most of my team will be moving to the UO expansion pack, the UO live team, and an unannounced Ultima Online project. Development on UO will be greatly enhanced as we consolidate our resources behind that franchise. This isn't an easy decision but it's the right move for the future of all things Ultima, including the community and the team.  We look forward to sharing our plans for the future of Ultima Online very soon. I would like to thank all of the Ultima X: Odyssey supporters who have been with us from the beginning.  I hope you will continue to support the Ultima franchise and the development team as they transition to new projects. Thank you, David "InQWis" Yee Producer, Ultima X: Odyssey

We at MMORPG.COM are a bit saddened by this announcement.  This was a very innovative and promising looking title.  We would like to thank the people at EA for their efforts in supporting our community and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

"best interest of the franchise. "

Figures EA would say something like that... if they wanted to make UO better, they would of made UO:X... but nooooo... another game destroyed by EA because it should of been made two years ago and the programmers take to long. :)

Took them awhile, but we all had a feeling this was coming.  Another sad day in a game that gets cancelled.

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SOB! Man, I was really looking forward to this title, it is such a shame! I guess the hype from WoW and EQII made them second guess with all of that as competition. That is so horrible, I guess I saw it coming in march when they split the team up and moved there offices. I really think they are makeing a mistake by suspending it perminantly though, if they released it later next year, mabye Q3 it would do great, I know it would of. O well, another casualty of a saturated market.

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Playing: City of Heroes
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And then there were two....

oh man...not another one...
i can understand that everybody in the business is scared of the big WoW, but i really hope that not all competitors run off screaming with there tail between the legs...

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just my 2 cents

I am pissed, this is the second time that EA cancels an Ultima "Online" product. I swear, I will never buy a EA game anymore. The sign have been there, as pther mentioned, no news for months the closing of Origing and the move and leaving of the best of the best in the DEV team.

Its another sad day in the short hostory of MMORPGs, but I really hope EA will regret this move!!!!

Camthorn Ironhand

WOW ... I mean to see some of the smaller titles bag it basically because of WoW and EQ 2 is one thing but to see something like UO X call it quits really blows my mind!

All I know is that if this continues I hope to hell that EQ2 and WoW make most of us happy for at least a couple years to come!

Beta'd: Neocron, Planetside, ShadowBane, Horizons, City of Heros, Saga of Ryzom, Lineage II

Played: EQ, Shadowbane, DAoC, SWG, Anarchy Online, Asherson's Call 2. Earth and Beyond

Playing: City of Heros, EQ

Quick place your bets on the next one. Im gonna say Dragon Empires

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Originally posted by DrunknMaster

Quick place your bets on the next one. Im gonna say Dragon Empires

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Beta'd: Neocron, Planetside, ShadowBane, Horizons, City of Heros, Saga of Ryzom, Lineage II

Played: EQ, Shadowbane, DAoC, SWG, Anarchy Online, Asherson's Call 2. Earth and Beyond

Playing: City of Heros, EQ

*toilet flush*

Another goes down the tubes. Anyone wonder why we dont see these POS 2d games being cancelled?

Why does EA even bother telling anyone about a new UO title. They just end up canceling it. I was thinking since they canceled UO2, they might actually stick to this one, so they don't make themselves look like complete jackasses. Turns out, I was wrong.

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