| Anno 117: Pax Romana | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a strategy, sim city builder developed by Ubisoft Mainz and published by Ubisoft. Read on to learn about the game's latest news and developments!
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Anno 117: Pax Romana News
2025
November 20
⚫︎ Anno 117: Pax Romana may have launched to Mixed Steam reviews and backlash over AI-generated assets, but it’s still breaking records for Ubisoft. The publisher says Anno 117 is now the fastest-selling game in the franchise’s 25-year history. Critically, it’s also the series’ best-rated entry, sitting at 85 on Metacritic, 84 on OpenCritic, and a 94% Recommended score. PC Gamer gave it an 80.
November 16
⚫︎ Ubisoft says an AI-generated loading screen in Anno 117: Pax Romana “slipped through” into the final build and will be replaced. The publisher notes the image was meant only as a placeholder. Despite the game’s Steam page carrying an “AI Generated Content Disclosure,” fans have criticized the use of AI in a full-priced Ubisoft release.
slipped through
into final build of Anno 117: Pax Romana) (Eurogamer)
October 31
⚫︎ Ubisoft has shed new light on one of Anno 117: Pax Romana's key systems: specialists — the evolution of the long-running “item” mechanic first introduced in Anno 1404.
While Anno 1800 greatly expanded items and their influence via buildings like Town Halls and Trade Unions, Anno 117 retools the system for clarity and flavor. Items are now called specialists, and every one of them is a person you recruit to support your cities or fleet.
October 20
⚫︎ Ubisoft has revealed all of its upcoming Year 1 DLC for Anno 117: Pax Romana in a new deep dive trailer. Called Prophecies of Ash, The Hippodrome, and Dawn of the Delta, these new DLCs promise a new volcano island province, a new Colosseum building, and an Egyptian province, respectively.
October 16
⚫︎ Ubisoft has released a brand-new Deep Dive trailer for Anno 117: Pax Romana, offering a detailed look at the game’s features, mechanics, and setting. Alongside the trailer, previews from media outlets and Anno community creators have gone live
October 8
⚫︎ Ubisoft Mainz’s latest Anno 117: Pax Romana DevBlog delves into how diplomacy and rival governors shape the empire’s political landscape. Players can choose up to three rival governors—each with unique personalities, goals, and playstyles—to coexist, compete, or clash with across the provinces of Latium and Albion.
September 17
⚫︎ Ubisoft has shared the latest Anno Union Update for Anno 117: Pax Romana, with three big highlights for fans. The Anno 117 demo will remain available beyond September 16, giving players more time to explore the new city-builder. Later this month, a dedicated Diplomacy livestream will cover rivals, characters, and the diplomacy menu, with the date to be announced soon.
September 2
⚫︎ Ubisoft announced the official system requirements for Anno 117: Pax Romana, with specs tailored for minimum fidelity, optimal performance, and high fidelity for "enthusiasts". They also posted a trailer on YouTube showcasing its PC-exclusive features such as 4K resolution, ultra-wide support, ray tracing, global illumination, atmospheric scattering, a day-night cycle, and uncapped framerate.
August 31
⚫︎ Ubisoft announced that a limited-time demo for Anno 117: Pax Romana will be available from September 2–16 on Steam, Epic Games, and Ubisoft Connect.
⚫︎ Ubisoft has unveiled an official merchandise line for Anno 117: Pax Romana. The collection, featured on the Ubisoft Gear Store, offers apparel inspired by the upcoming title, including hoodies and shirts embroidered with the series logo.
August 25
⚫︎ Ubisoft’s next historical city-builder, Anno 117: Pax Romana, has been honored with the Gamescom 2025 Award for Best PC Game. The team thanked fans and attendees for their support during the show, where the game drew plenty of attention on the show floor.
August 18
⚫︎ Ubisoft has detailed its plans for Anno 117: Pax Romana at Gamescom, taking place later this month in Cologne. Visitors will be able to play the upcoming city-builder at the Anno booth, with hands-on demos set in the provinces of Albion and Latium. The booth will also feature photo opportunities and themed statues, while the Ubisoft Community Corner will host daily panels and presentations from August 21–24, offering insights into the game’s setting and challenges.
In addition, the annual Anno Community Event will be held on August 20, with randomly selected participants receiving invitations via email. Outside of Gamescom, Ubisoft has launched Echoes of History, a new podcast series created with History Hit, exploring the historical context of the Pax Romana.
July 28
⚫︎ Ubisoft has detailed how animals are animated in Anno 117: Pax Romana, highlighting the work of animator Marion. The process begins with 2D concept art and moves through 3D modeling, rigging, and animation. To balance detail and performance, the team uses normal maps and Level of Detail (LOD) techniques.
Animals like wolves and pigs are designed with historical accuracy and given animations for walking, running, and idling. Marion uses Blender and Substance Painter, preferring animal animation over human characters. All animal models in Anno 117 are newly created, replacing older assets from Anno 1800. Ubisoft also confirmed that motion capture was used for human units, with more details to come.
July 17
⚫︎ Ubisoft Mainz has revealed new details on warfare in Anno 117: Pax Romana, confirming the return of both land and naval combat. The game will feature linear, strategy-driven battles with unit types like infantry, cavalry, ranged, and artillery, each with unique strengths. Naval ships are modular, allowing players to customize fleets with offensive upgrades.
Military actions are deeply tied to the economy, requiring resources, population, and maintenance. Morale plays a key role in land battles, with units able to flee if it drops too low. Warfare is optional but integrated, adding depth without overshadowing the series’ city-building core.
July 1
⚫︎ Ubisoft Mainz has revealed new details on warfare in Anno 117: Pax Romana, confirming the return of both land and naval combat. The game will feature linear, strategy-driven battles with unit types like infantry, cavalry, ranged, and artillery, each with unique strengths. Naval ships are modular, allowing players to customize fleets with offensive upgrades.
Military actions are deeply tied to the economy, requiring resources, population, and maintenance. Morale plays a key role in land battles, with units able to flee if it drops too low. Warfare is optional but integrated, adding depth without overshadowing the series’ city-building core.
June 8
⚫︎ Ubisoft has announced that Anno 117: Pax Romana will launch on November 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Store, as well as Amazon Luna. Developed by Ubisoft Mainz, the latest entry in the Anno strategy series puts players in the role of a Roman governor in 117 AD, tasked with shaping the empire through economic growth, cultural unification, or military dominance.
