The game engine that is used is supposedly the same as Oblivion. The expansion Stygian Abyss ( that will be KR savvy) will use the new client`s possibilities to the full. As you probably know, UO is tile based. KR and the upcoming expansion will not be, and hopefully they will be able to move things over smoothly.
The current 3D client will be dropped this month, and the remaining 2D will slowly be phased out. They are not going to force players to change clients, (that would not sit well with the vocal UO community) but I guess they hope that most will come over fast so they can concentrate on one rather quickly.
Many UI things will be options, like 3 different ways to view the backpack, play in window mode so old UO players can keep their "black area" on the side of the screen etc.
Beta is ca 2 weeks away, and the first batch will be current UO players with old accounts.
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From UO, Wow, Lotro, Vanguard and many others. Back playing Ultima Online, Europa.
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