Key Highlights:
- Anno 117: Pax Romana launches 13 November 2025, introducing a fully voiced Campaign Mode with player-driven narrative choices, and a new deep dive trailer was release by Ubisoft.
- Year 1 Pass brings three expansions: Prophecies of Ash, The Hippodrome, and Dawn of the Delta.
- Deep systems include governance, belief, diplomacy, and warfare.
Ubisoft’s long-running Anno series is heading into uncharted territory with Anno 117: Pax Romana, a city-building strategy game set during the height of the Roman Empire.
For the first time in the franchise, the campaign will let players experience the political and cultural pressures of Rome from the perspective of two central characters: Marcus and Marcia.
It’s a bold creative shift that takes Anno from pure simulation into a choice-driven narrative, and from what I’ve seen so far, it’s shaping up to be the most layered entry yet. You can watch the new deep dive trailer below:
In the campaign, Marcus wrestles with self-doubt after being unexpectedly appointed governor, while Marcia navigates a society that resists her rise to power. Both characters must lead settlements, maintain order, and balance loyalty to the Empire against the needs of their citizens. The story unfolds through a web of political manoeuvring, moral choices, and city management that directly impacts how Rome’s peace is maintained, or lost. It’s the kind of player agency I’ve wanted to see in this series for years.
Gameplay-wise, Anno 117 feels like an intricate blend of urban planning, logistics, and historical immersion. Each province operates under its own rules, resources, and local cultures.
The fertile lands of Latium offer lavender and vineyards for wine production, while Albion’s wetlands rely on eel fisheries and reed farming. It’s not just aesthetic variety either, these environmental distinctions alter how you design cities.
Latium’s rigid Roman geometry contrasts with Albion’s natural, diagonal road layouts that bend around marshes and rivers. This duality is smart design. It ties your city’s look and efficiency to the environment you’re conquering, creating a sense of authenticity in every province you rule.
Every decision you make as a governor shapes the destiny of your provinces. You can adopt Roman ideals like building roads, aqueducts, and marble plazas worthy of the Empire, or lean into Celtic traditions by embracing nature, smaller settlements, and organic layouts.
Faith also plays a major role. You can build sanctuaries to different gods and gain tangible bonuses for your citizens. Worship Mars, the god of war, to strengthen your military. Follow Ceres, goddess of the harvest, to expand farmland by 50%. Or honour Epona, goddess of domestication, to improve farming efficiency.
The belief system interlocks beautifully with the Discovery Tree, a research system that unlocks over 150 advancements in urban development, technology, and culture.
Diplomacy and warfare carry just as much weight as city management. You’ll trade and negotiate with rival governors, forge alliances, and defend your borders when diplomacy breaks down. From what Ubisoft has shown, land and naval combat are both modular, letting you customise troops and ships through upgrades, divine blessings, and research.
Building watchtowers, palisades, or defensive choke points becomes as strategic as your economy itself. You can even rebel against the Emperor, risking the wrath of Rome to carve out your own legacy.
Outside of the campaign, an expansive sandbox mode will return, offering players total freedom to design, expand, and experiment. You’ll be able to play cooperatively or competitively, inviting friends as rival governors or allies sharing the same banner.
This flexibility is a hallmark of Anno, and Pax Romana looks ready to push it even further.
As for post-launch content, Ubisoft confirmed three major expansions coming via the Year 1 Pass. Prophecies of Ash introduces Latium, a wild, resource-rich island overshadowed by a volcano.
The Hippodrome lets players construct a grand arena inspired by Circus Maximus, hosting chariot races to raise prestige and attract specialists. Dawn of the Delta expands the empire into Egypt, with new gods, climates, and economic systems shaped by the Nile.
These additions suggest Ubisoft is planning steady, high-value updates rather than shallow cosmetic drops.
Having followed the Anno series since Anno 1404, it’s clear Ubisoft Mainz is using this entry to fuse narrative, simulation, and history in a way that feels modern without losing the franchise’s methodical core.
Between its moral choices, belief systems, and cultural interplay, Anno 117: Pax Romana looks like the studio’s most complete vision yet, a builder that not only lets you craft cities but defines what kind of ruler you are.
On November 13th, Anno 117 Pax Romana arrives, the Gold Edition features the Year 1 Pass, available separately as well. Secure your pre-order now through Ubisoft+, PC (Ubisoft Store, Epic Games Store, Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Amazon Luna.