This project first popped up in late September of 2025, when Ded Head Studio announced Unity-based remake of Ultima 9 on the Ultima Dragons Discord server.

This remake aims to implement the Bob White Plot version of Ultima 9’s story, and will feature a more dynamic dialogue system that allows NPCs to react to the player’s choices. NPCs will also have more advanced decision-making capabilities than in the release version of Ultima 9, and will follow their own routines and schedules during the game’s day/night cycle.

Spellcasting in Ultima Unity will also be more fluid than in any prior Ultima; spells can be placed in the inventory hotbar for quick and easy casting without the need to open up a spellbook; spells can also be directly targeted at enemies.

Combat will be similar in nature to that of Ultima 9, with some refinements. Ded Head Studio also appear to be working on implementing level streaming in order to re-create the truly seamless feel of Ultima 9’s game world, something that few other 3D RPGs to date have attempted to match. Ultima Unity will also feature a “drag and drop” inventory similar to what Ultima 9 offered. New features like climbing ledges have also been added, to enhance the ability of players to explore Britannia.

While I’m not the biggest fan of the Bob White Plot (the Ed del Castillo plot would make for a much better game overall), it is interesting to see how this project is shaping up. Much of the core of Ultima 9 as we know it is still there, including the game UI and many of the re-created visuals and objects. Ded Head Studio appear to be trying to keep as faithfully close to the release version of the game as possible, apart from the different story direction. You can find a few gameplay videos on both their thread on the Ultima Dragons Discord server and the Ultima Unity project entry here at the Codex; I think you’ll agree that they’ve nailed the feel of Ultima 9 rather well.

A demo is available, if you want to give it a try. And you’d do well to follow Ded Head’s thread on Discord to keep pace with their development progress.