Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss is the eighth expansion pack

Expansion pack

An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...

 for the 1997 MMORPG

MMORPG

Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....

 Ultima Online

Ultima Online

Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...

. The expansion was announced prematurely on the Japanese Ultima Online website. It was originally slated for release in the summer of 2007, but expected after 2008. On August 12, 2009, the official release date of September 8, 2009 was announced by Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...

.

Official announcement

Ultima Online Stygian Abyss, was "re-announced", this time with art and storyline. UO Herald states that more information will be forthcoming in upcoming months.

Features

• Gargoyle Race - A new player race. One ability includes being ably to "fly" (cross certain obstacles and move at mounted speed). Gargoyles can not learn Archery skill or use bows.
• Ter Mur - The Gargoyle homeland. Players will be able to place houses in this area.
• Stygian Abyss Dungeon - The largest and most intricate added to date. Based on the one seen in Ultima Underworld, the entrance is found on Fire Island on both facets. Creatures found inside include the Medusa, Primeval Lich and the Stygian Dragon. There will also be non-consensual player vs player combat areas inside the abyss.
• Imbuing - A new crafting skill that allows players to manage the properties added on a crafted weapon or armor piece. This will also include the ability to harvest magical properties from existing items.
• Mysticism - A Gargoyle form of spellcasting complete with its own set of spells.
• Throwing - A new ranged weapons skill utilizing throwing weapons and consumes no ammunition. Can only be learned by Gargoyles.
• Housing Tiles - Nine new sets showing off the style of Gargoyles.

External links

• http://www.uoguide.com/Stygian_Abyss - Further news, images, and details on the expansion