What is the cost of running an Ultima Online server?

The cost of operating a RunUO Ultima Online server, like UO Evolution, with over 500 players online daily can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the server hardware, software and hosting requirements, maintenance costs, labor and the specific needs of our player base.

Here are some general cost estimates to consider:

Server hardware: The cost of purchasing or leasing a powerful server(s) with adequate storage space, RAM, and CPU can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the specific hardware requirements. A high-end server may be necessary to handle the demands of such a large player base like UO Evolution.

Software: The cost of acquiring or licensing the necessary software, including Windows Server 2023, third-party tools, plugins, wiki, wordpress, templates, .net framework, hosting software, email list management, buying custom code, etc. can vary depending on the specific software packages and licenses needed.

Hosting: The cost of hosting the server(s) can vary depending on the hosting provider and the specific hosting package selected. We use several servers, a test server and a back up to run UO Evolution.  A dedicated hosting plan is required for a large player base and can cost a few thousand dollars per month.

Advertising: You can advertise in many places for free on the internet, but in order to attract new players you need to pay fees to Google, Facebook, Instagram, and multiple toplists which can each cost several hundred per month.  You also need to run a website and wiki, which need monthly graphics, updates and info!

Maintenance: Regular maintenance and updates are necessary to ensure the server is stable, secure, and up-to-date. This may require hiring a dedicated server administrator or developer to perform these tasks, which can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month. Hackers try and disrupt our servers daily and it requires a lot of maintainance to keep the firewall up-to-date.

Staffing/Labor Requirements: Many people volunteer time to help with many aspects of our game, but it does take a dedicated paid staff to maintain such a large shard, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 12 years!

Overall, the cost of operating a RunUO Ultima Online server is very expensive and time-consuming...although this is a FREE SHARD, it does take money and donations to keep the shard online and available to all that enjoy this project