Oceania (OSI)

Oceania is a paid/subscription Ultima Online shard which is owned by Electronic Arts (EA).

Not to be confused with the free shard Oceania Classic.

Oceania & Oceania Classic

Oceania (OSI) was launched on the 28th of January, 2000, at which time Ultima Online was in The Second Age era and still run by Origin (OSI). However, it was only a matter of months before the Renaissance expansion was released (3rd of April, 2000) and the facet of Trammel was introduced.

Aside from the Classic Client of course, while there are many different things that define what "Classic UO" is to different people, there are two major turning points in the game's history that stand out above all others as marking an end to the "Classic Era". The first was the introduction of the facet of Trammel with the release of the Renaissance expansion, while the second was the changes to the item system and game mechanics that came with the Age of Shadows expansion. Oceania Classic is set during The Second Age expansion, before both the Renaissance and the Age of Shadows.

It is important to note that while Oceania Classic is set in The Second Age era in terms of the lands that can be explored, it is not a replica or recreation of the game as it was during The Second Age, nor does it seek to be. Features from across UO's decades long history that enhance the shard and fit into the Classic Era have been included.

The aim of Oceania Classic is not to replace Oceania (OSI) at all but rather to stand alongside it. While they are both Australian UO shards, they are very different games as they are set in very different eras of UO which are separated by a whole 20+ real world years.