There was some unexpected — but happy! — news from Mythic studio GM Paul Barnett today:

We finally got the original Ultima 4 onto the App Store via our friends at Elite. Mythic and EA deliver old school 🙂

— thatbarnettbloke (@thatbarnettblok) September 6, 2013

And, indeed, as is confirmed by both the app’s page on the Apple website and this press release at the Elite Systems website, the Commodore 64 version of Ultima 4 has in fact been ported to Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, and is available for free to anyone running iOS 4.3 or later on an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.

Which basically means that almost any iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad can play the game.

‘Ultima IV: C64’ is a near 100% replica of the original version developed by Origin Systems in 1985, available free of charge – courtesy of Mythic studios – utilizing Elite System’s C64: Elite Collection technology.

SET FORTH ON GRAND ADVENTURES
The evil triad of Mondain, Minax, and the hellspawn Exodus has been vanquished but evil yet abounds, in isolated pockets and in the hearts of men. A new age awaits the coming of one who can conquer evil through mastery of both magic and the use of force. Daemons, dragons, and long-dead wizards plague the countryside and must be destroyed.

EXPERIENCE A MILESTONE IN COMPUTER GAMING

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GOOD?
Ultima IV challenges not only your physical and mental skills, but the true fabric of your moral character, breaking traditional “kill the bad guy to save the world” clichés.

BATTLE ENEMIES IN STRATEGIC COMBAT
The seeker on the path of the Avatar will face hostile groups composed of mixed enemy types and will survive such encounters only by strategic use of weapons and terrain. Earthly victories over seemingly impossible odds lead to the final conflict, where the ultimate challenge awaits.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME THE AVATAR?

ULTIMA IV: C64 GAMEPLAY FEATURES:

•Digital copies of materials included in the original Ultima IV including the ‘Player Reference Card by Lord British,’ ‘History of Britannia as told by Kyle the Younger,’ ‘Book of Mystic Wisdom as told by Philpop the Weary,’ ‘Ultima IV Map of Britannia,’ and assorted images
•Helpful in-game guide to help you master gameplay as well as an in-depth gameplay guide for Beginners, courtesy of GameFAQS **Spoiler Alert**
•Enjoy playing Ultima IV in portrait or landscape mode
•Automatically save your game each time you exit with up to four save game slots

The app is constantly evolving, Elite Systems is committed to continuing development over the weeks, months and indeed years ahead. If you have any questions, concerns or general feedback please contact us at support@elite-systems.co.uk We promise we’ll respond to your message.

Elite Systems has ported a number of classic Commodore 64 games to iOS already, and a number of Ultima games were released on that platform. So hopefully this is just a first step in a process that will see other Ultimas released on the App Store. I could certainly see Mythic pushing to get more titles from the series released in this way.

If nothing else, though, you can carry this seminal, masterful RPG around with you on the go, for free.