Ubisoft finally gives Roman Empire fans what they want in Anno 117: Pax Romana

We’ve all been living in the shadow of that meme: “How often do you think about the Roman Empire?” Ubisoft’s answer is apparently: constantly. And they’re done pretending otherwise.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is the next big entry in the long-running Anno series, and it takes players back to one of the most-requested, most-obsessed-over settings in history. You’re no longer stuck in the Industrial Age or some mid-tier space colony — it’s time to build Rome itself, brick by brick.

“Rome has been a wish from our fans since forever. Not only our fans but also our team because it’s such an iconic and ever-present Empire.” — Manuel Reihner, Creative Director

The devs at Ubisoft Mainz made the reveal dramatic: a gameplay preview event staged in the Gardens of Sallust, the ancient grounds once owned by Julius Caesar. Fittingly epic. But the game isn’t just about looks or nostalgia — they’re updating core systems too.

If you’ve played previous Anno games, you know the pain of perfect grids. Every city feels like a spreadsheet. Anno 117 tosses that in the Tiber. The big upgrade? Diagonal building. Streets and structures now work on 45-degree angles, which means cities look less like board games and more like actual Roman settlements, with winding roads and irregular farms.

That tiny change has a massive effect. Everything looks more natural. It also messes with your brain in the best way if you’re into optimising layouts.

Another major change is how production buildings work. Instead of just producing goods on a timer, they now influence their local area. Place one too close to a residential zone, and you might get debuffs. Put it somewhere smart and you’ll get a boost.

It’s no longer just about hitting efficiency numbers. It’s about balance. About planning. About thinking like a Roman governor who cares if the plebs are happy. There’s an actual sim element creeping in here, and it feels right.

The Roman Empire isn’t just a reskin for existing mechanics. Anno 117 adds new citizen tiers, full tech trees, and a flexible faith system. You’ll also expand your territories through diplomacy or war, meaning it’s not just about city-building anymore, but also managing the Empire like an actual power broker.

The devs are trying to make Anno feel less like a static builder and more like a dynamic simulation of Roman governance. Whether that holds up in the full game is still up in the air, but early impressions are solid.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime later this year. No hard date yet, but the showcase indicates they’re deep in development — and confident enough to let content creators go hands-on.

If you’ve ever wanted to turn your daily Roman Empire brainrot into something productive, this might be your moment.

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Anno 117: Pax Romana might finally be the game that makes the Roman Empire feel alive again, not as a meme, but as a living, breathing strategy sim where every road you build, every temple you place, and every citizen you upgrade becomes part of a bigger imperial dream. Or disaster. That’s on you.