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The Anno series is known for its rich city-building mechanics, strategic depth, and immersive historical settings. With Anno 117: Pax Romana, the eighth installment in the franchise, Ubisoft Mainz takes us further back in time than ever before, to the Roman Empire at its zenith. Announced during the Ubisoft Forward showcase in June 2024, this highly anticipated title promises to blend the series’ beloved gameplay elements with a fresh historical backdrop and exciting new features. Here’s everything we know so far about Anno 117: Pax Romana.
Shaping the Roman Empire
In Anno 117: Pax Romana, you step into the role of a Roman governor during the year 117 AD, the height of the Roman Empire’s power. Your mission? To shape the destiny of your provinces. Will you follow the status quo and stay loyal to the empire, or will you rebel and forge your own path? The narrative-driven gameplay gives players the freedom to decide between fostering economic growth, expanding through dominance, or uniting diverse cultures under Roman or Celtic traditions. The cost of peace—and the shape of your empire—rests entirely in your hands.
Discovering Latium and Albion
For the first time in the series, players can choose between two starting provinces: Latium, the Roman heartland, and Albion, the misty Celtic frontier. Each offers unique opportunities and challenges, shaping the way players approach governance.
- Latium: A province of luxury and tranquility, Latium is inspired by the Amalfi Coast and the Bay of Naples. It features rolling fields of lavender and wheat, sun-soaked beaches, and scenic cliffs. It serves as the quintessential Roman setting, a place where wealthy citizens retreat for peace and prosperity.
- Albion: In contrast, Albion is a rugged, marshy land far removed from the Roman heart. With rocky cliffs, foggy weather, and Celtic traditions, Albion presents unique challenges. Its isolation and harsher environment push players to innovate and adapt, offering new ways to expand their influence.
Build, Trade, Expand: Gameplay Features
At its core, Anno 117: Pax Romana retains the series’ hallmark mechanics of city-building, economic simulation, and strategic depth while introducing new layers of complexity. Some highlights include:
- Romanization vs. Celtic Traditions: Players influence the culture of their provinces by choosing between Romanization or preserving local Celtic customs. This decision affects everything from city aesthetics to production chains and population needs. For example:
- Romanized cities feature red-tiled roofs and demand goods like togas, crafted from flax and Tyrian Purple dye imported from Latium.
- Celtic-aligned cities focus on local harmony, producing goods like trousers made from sheep’s wool and natural dyes.
- Dynamic Production Chains: Players must manage intricate trade routes between provinces. Goods like Tyrian Purple dye, found only in Latium, are essential for Romanized cities in Albion. Conversely, resources unique to Albion, such as metal from its mines, may need to be exported back to Latium.
- Diplomacy and NPC Interaction: The game expands its focus on diplomacy, introducing a dynamic system that encourages negotiation, alliances, and competition with NPCs.
- Replayability: Each province develops differently depending on the player’s decisions, offering a variety of paths and outcomes. Governors can even manage mixed cultural cities, increasing complexity and rewarding strategic mastery.
Development Insights
The development of Anno 117: Pax Romana has been a significant undertaking for Ubisoft Mainz. Backed by a €5.7 million subsidy from the German Federal Ministry of Economics, the game builds upon the massive success of Anno 1800. The team has emphasized several key improvements:
- Modular Gameplay: To enhance accessibility, new players can focus on managing specific provinces, while core fans can dive into complex trade networks and governance across multiple regions.
- Visual Enhancements: The developers have reworked island designs, tree textures, and environmental details to create a world players will want to explore and build within.
- Controller Support: Building on learnings from Anno 1800’s console version, the team aims to optimize the game for multiple platforms without compromising gameplay.
Promotion and Community Involvement
Ubisoft Mainz has actively engaged the Anno community in the development process. From live-action teaser trailers to community contests, fans have had opportunities to shape the game’s content. Notable promotional activities include:
- Community Contests: Fans have been invited to design ornaments and islands for the game. A recent contest focused on creating an island for Latium, challenging players to balance aesthetics with functionality.
- Gamescom 2024 Highlights: New gameplay details revealed the importance of Romanization, cultural paths, and city-building mechanics.
- Live-Action Trailers: A teaser trailer featured a Roman herald addressing an empty field, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the community’s long-standing demand for an Ancient Rome setting.
The Historical Context of Pax Romana
The game’s subtitle, Pax Romana, refers to the 200-year period of relative peace and stability during the Roman Empire. This era was marked by thriving trade, cultural exchange, and monumental architectural achievements—elements that serve as the perfect foundation for a game centered on city-building and economic growth. While the developers have drawn inspiration from history, they’ve also taken creative liberties to prioritize gameplay, ensuring that the setting feels both authentic and fun.
Release Date and Platforms
Anno 117: Pax Romana is scheduled to release in 2025 (no specific date yet, sorry…) for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It will mark the first time the Anno series explores Ancient Rome, offering fans a fresh yet familiar experience in one of history’s most iconic eras.
FAQ: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Q: What is Anno 117: Pax Romana?
A: Anno 117: Pax Romana is an upcoming city-building real-time strategy game and the eighth installment in Ubisoft’s Anno series. It is set in Ancient Rome during the year 117 AD, allowing players to govern provinces, build cities, and make impactful decisions about cultural integration and expansion.
Q: Who is developing and publishing the game?
A: The game is developed by Ubisoft Mainz and published by Ubisoft.
Q: What platforms will the game be available on?
A: Anno 117: Pax Romana will be released on Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Q: When will the game be released?
A: The game is scheduled for release in 2025. A specific release date has not yet been announced.
Q: What are the main features of the game?
A: Key features include:
– A choice of starting provinces: the Roman heartland of Latium or the Celtic frontier of Albion.
– Cultural mechanics, such as Romanization versus preserving local Celtic traditions, which affect city aesthetics, production chains, and population needs.
– Dynamic production chains and trade routes between provinces.
– Diplomacy and interactions with NPCs.
Q: What is the historical setting of the game?
A: The game is set during the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of peace and stability in the Roman Empire. The setting highlights the trade, cultural integration, and architectural achievements of the era.
Q: Will Anno 117: Pax Romana feature multiplayer?
A: No details about multiplayer functionality have been confirmed. The game is described as a single-player experience.
Q: How does the game handle cultural mechanics like Romanization?
A: Players can choose to Romanize their provinces, which affects city design and citizen needs. Romanized cities may require goods like togas and Roman-style buildings, while preserving Celtic traditions involves creating goods like trousers and maintaining harmony with the local environment. Players can also mix cultures for a more complex governance experience.
Q: Has the game received any funding or support during development?
A: Yes, the development of Anno 117: Pax Romana has been subsidized by the German Federal Ministry of Economics with €5.7 million since summer 2023.
Q: Was the game announced with gameplay footage?
A: No, the initial announcement during Ubisoft Forward in June 2024 featured a live-action teaser trailer. Additional details and early screenshots were revealed later at Gamescom 2024.
Q: What are some promotional activities related to the game?
A: Ubisoft Mainz has hosted community contests, including one to design a statue ornament and another to create an island for Latium. These activities engage fans in contributing to the game’s content.
Q: Can players explore multiple provinces in the game?
A: Yes, players can govern and expand both Latium and Albion, each offering distinct challenges and opportunities. Decisions made in each province influence trade, production, and cultural integration.
Q: What is the significance of the subtitle Pax Romana?
A: The subtitle refers to a 200-year period of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire. It serves as a thematic backdrop for the game, emphasizing trade, city-building, and cultural dynamics.
