The latest Ultima Online newsletter was released a couple of days ago, and it lets on that Broadsword Online Games have been focusing their efforts on the decay rate of old, abandoned player structures in the game:

We are pleased to announce we have deployed the second release of Publish 108 to TC1!  This release includes a major update to the IDOC system.  We have come up with what we think will be a fair and just system for everyone. If you haven’t checked out what was included in the first release we invite you to check out the vet rewards, Ultima Store Items, PvP combat updates and more listed in the publish notes. After listening to feedback we have come up with what we think will be a fair and just system for everyone. We have accelerated the house decay process and put a production shard backup on TC1 for testing the following changes.  Please note the accelerated decay process only applies to TC1.

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Test Center Specific Notes:  For the purposes of efficient testing, the decay cycle has been sped up on Test Center only.  This is not representative of how the decay cycle timing will work on production.  Decay cycle timing will remain as it is now on production for Origin etc. and WW release.  As of TC1 being published with the latest update, it will take approximately 9 hours before houses begin to fall on TC1.  See the notes above on how to identify the location of these structures and how that process will play out.

There’s no further word on what the big change that will bring the game to the largest possible audience will be. There is, in the newsletter, a screenshot of some of the new items that Publish 108 will add to the game, however; anybody need a golden calf?