Origin Systems

Origin Systems was a prominent American video game developer and publisher known for its pioneering role-playing games (RPGs) and its impact on the gaming industry. The company was founded in 1983 by Richard "Lord British" Garriott and his brother, Robert Garriott. Origin Systems was headquartered in Austin, Texas, and played a significant role in shaping the RPG genre and the concept of immersive, open-world gaming.
Origin Systems was at the forefront of creating immersive game worlds. The "Ultima" series, in particular, was known for its open-world design, where players could explore a vast, interconnected realm, interact with NPCs, and make moral decisions that affected the game's outcome. This approach to game design influenced later RPGs and open-world games.
In 1992, Electronic Arts (EA) acquired Origin Systems, making it a subsidiary of the larger game publisher. While some successful games continued to be released under the Origin Systems label, the studio's direction began to shift under EA's ownership. Unfortunately, Origin Systems was gradually phased out by Electronic Arts in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The closure of the studio marked the end of an era in the history of RPG and immersive game development.