Anno 117: Pax Romana

Overview and Introduction

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a historical city-building and economic simulation game developed by the veteran strategy team at Ubisoft Mainz and published by Ubisoft. Released globally on November 13, 2025, the game transports the acclaimed Anno formula into antiquity for the first time, setting players at the absolute zenith of the Roman Empire during a period of unprecedented administrative expansion and stability.

Players assume the role of an imperial Roman Governor tasked with establishing, developing, and linking provincial territories across the ancient world. Departing from the industrial factories of Anno 1800, Anno 117 centers on classical supply chains, monumental Roman architecture, and the complex cultural integration of conquered lands. The title features a narrative campaign and an expansive sandbox mode—both fully playable solo or cooperatively—supported by complete crossplay and cross-progression across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

• Core Pillars of Anno 117: Pax Romana:
  • Roman Era City-Building: Master ancient logistics by constructing complex aqueduct networks, thermal bathhouses, patrician villas, and bustling Mediterranean ports.
  • Dual Provincial Management: Simultaneously develop and link trade routes between the classical Mediterranean heartland of Latium and the misty Celtic frontier of Albion.
  • Cultural Governance: Balance imperial decrees with local heritage, choosing between enforcing strict Romanization or preserving and integrating native Romano-Celtic customs.
  • Unified Cross-Platform Ecosystem: Features full crossplay multiplayer, cloud-based cross-progression via Ubisoft Connect, and dedicated interfaces tailored for both PC and console gamepads.

Top 3 Reasons to Play Anno 117: Pax Romana

Anno 117 combines the deep logistical puzzle-solving of the franchise with the grandeur and architectural scale of ancient Rome.

• Intricate Classical Supply Chains: Establish production lines transforming raw resources like clay, olives, grapes, and iron into luxury ceramics, fine wine, and legionary arms to meet the rising demands of your citizens.
• Monumental Architectural Wonders: Design and construct engineering marvels of antiquity, erecting grand amphitheaters, sprawling thermal baths, and intricate aqueduct networks that alter your cityscapes.
• Complete Co-Op Campaign & Full Crossplay: Team up with friends across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S to experience both the narrative campaign and open sandbox modes together, co-managing a single empire's islands, fleets, and provincial treasury.

Story, Lore, and Setting

Set during the transition between Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, the narrative explores the administrative, ethical, and economic challenges of maintaining imperial peace.

Narrative and Cultural Setting

• The Pax Romana: The year is 117 AD. The Roman Empire stretches from Britannia to the sands of Mesopotamia. As an appointed Governor, your mandate is to secure economic prosperity, maintain public order, and expand imperial influence without provoking provincial revolt.
• The Province of Latium: The sun-drenched Mediterranean heartland. Cities in Latium emphasize classical marble monuments, advanced maritime logistics, patrician villas, and the refined luxury goods demanded by Rome's senatorial elite.
• The Province of Albion: A damp, resource-rich northern frontier populated by Celtic tribes. Here, players encounter a central cultural dilemma: aggressively romanize the local population through imperial law and architecture, or preserve and integrate Celtic traditions, unlocking distinct local goods and specialized building styles.

Gameplay, Economy, and Logistics

The gameplay loop balances urban grid planning, social stratification, and multi-island production logistics.

Core Strategic Systems

• Social Stratification and Needs: Citizens progress through four distinct social tiers:
  • Liberti (Freedmen): The initial working class responsible for basic agrarian production, logging, and infrastructure maintenance.
  • Plebeians: The civic backbone providing skilled labor for workshops, masonry, and foundational trade goods.
  • Equites: The wealthy mercantile class driving mid-tier commerce, cavalry recruitment, and specialized manufacturing.
  • Patricians: The aristocratic elite whose advanced demands for exotic imports, theatrical performances, and luxury commodities drive late-game expansion.
• Production Logistics and Warehouses: Raw resource extractors must link directly to processing workshops and central storage depots. Well-planned road networks, regional storehouses, and loading docks prevent supply bottlenecks.
• Inter-Provincial Trade Fleets: No single island or province yields every required commodity. Governors must construct and protect specialized merchant fleets, establishing automated trade routes between Mediterranean waters and the northern seas.
• The Governor's Edicts: An administrative system allowing players to enact provincial decrees that alter taxation tiers, increase production efficiency, or boost public happiness across their territories.

Year 1 Expansions and Post-Launch Roadmap

Following its launch, Ubisoft Mainz expanded the base game through three major DLC expansions included in the Year 1 Pass:

Year 1 Content

• Prophecies of Ash: Expands the Mediterranean map with volatile volcanic islands. Players exploit hyper-fertile volcanic soils for high-yield farming and mine rare minerals like pozzolana (used in Roman concrete) and obsidian, balancing high-value production against active volcanic hazards, seismic tremors, and appeasement rites at the temples of Vulcan.
• The Hippodrome: Introduces massive chariot racing complexes and athletic spectacles. Governors breed prized steeds, construct grand circuses, and navigate the political influence of rival racing factions to boost regional happiness and imperial prestige.
• Dawn of the Delta: Unlocks a major third region set in the fertile river basin of Roman Egypt. Players manage the seasonal inundation of the Nile, cultivate papyrus and flax, erect monumental sandstone temples, and secure the vital grain shipments that sustain the entire empire.

Platforms, Network Features, and Cross-Progression

Anno 117: Pax Romana is built to deliver a native, optimized strategy experience across PC and current-generation consoles.

Platform Availability and Online Features

• Global Release Date: November 13, 2025
• Supported Platforms:
  • PC
  • PlayStation 5
  • Xbox Series X|S
• Crossplay Support: Full cross-platform multiplayer is supported across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S via Ubisoft Connect, allowing players across all systems to build, trade, and govern together seamlessly.
• Cross-Progression (Cross-Save): Supported across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Through a linked Ubisoft Connect account, all campaign saves and sandbox files automatically synchronize across platforms.
• Multiplayer and Co-Op Capabilities:
  • Co-Op Campaign: Players can team up to play through and complete the entire story campaign cooperatively, sharing control of the same governor, decisions, and resources.
  • Co-Op Sandbox: Multiple players can co-manage a single empire in open sandbox games, dividing administrative responsibilities across different islands and provinces.
  • Competitive Multiplayer: Supports up to 4 rival Governors competing for economic, territorial, and diplomatic dominance.
• Subscription Access: Available on day one to Ubisoft+ subscribers on PC and Xbox; the game is not included in the standard Xbox Game Pass library.