Garriott's next project is "probably medieval fantasy and probably online," the designer told BBC News.

"After 25 years at Origin, the last thing I wanted to make was yet another medieval fantasy game," Garriott explained, adding he's now "keen to get back into the fray and work on a new game."

Exactly where Garriott would pursue development of a new title is unknown, as he left his position at Tabula Rasa publisher NCsoft this fall after returning from outer space.

As the Ultima brand of fantasy games is now owned by Electronic Arts, it's unlikely, though possible, that Garriott could return to the long-running RPG franchise, which has spawned numerous sequels along with a beloved PC MMO titled Ultima Online.