New RPG ‘Shroud Of The Avatar’ By Richard Garriott Aims For 2015 Release

PlayStation 4 Controller is Displayed at the 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Known as E3, in Los Angeles — A PlayStation 4 controller is displayed at the 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, in Los Angeles, California, June 11, 2014. Reuters

Richard Garriott, who also goes by the alias “Lord British,” is releasing a new Kickstarter-funded RPG called “Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues,” and it might get released this year. As seen from the report by Polygon, it looks to be an anticipated release as the game not only managed to reach its Kickstarter goal of about $1 million, but the extra crowd funding pledges given to the game’s site has almost reached $6 million.

As far as the 2015 “Shroud of the Avatar” release date is concerned, Garriott has stated that he hopes it will be released this year. The game has actually had a few public beta tests to gauge audience reaction since December 2013. Since then, monthly updates were added to the game and helped expand it. Garriott has confessed that the first month of the beta was little more than a player avatar and a map but has greatly expanded since then.

Those interested in testing out “Shroud of the Avatar” before the game’s full release can pledge $45 to the website of the game and try the game for themselves. User reviews have been fairly positive so far, at least as far as Steam and the site’s users are concerned. An article from Eurogamer has stated that “Shroud of the Avatar” truly feels like the spiritual sequel to “Ultima: Underworld.”

Garriott, for those who don’t know, is considered the father of the hit game series “Ultima,” an open world fantasy game that was considered astonishing at the time of the game’s release and was said to have inspired games like “Bioshock.” While that game series now belongs to EA Games, there have been many Kickstarter projects claiming to be the next "Ultima" successor like “Underworld Ascendant” by Otherside Entertainment.

EA even released a free mobile version of the game called “Ultima Forever,” but it was shut down last year, according Gamasutra. Still, many fans are still clamouring for a true successor to “Ultima” and it remains to be seen if “Shroud of the Avatar” will fill its shoes.