Ubisoft Mainz Celebrates with Political Visitors and CEO Yves Guillemot

In 1995, Ubisoft Mainz was founded by four friends as Related Designs. To mark the anniversary, Minister President Alexander Schweitzer and CEO Yves Guillemot visited the studio to get an impression of the studio and Anno 117: Pax Romana, which is planned for winter 2025.

The studio has been an integral part of the Ubisoft family since 2014 and has since been involved in numerous productions, most notably the Anno IP games. However, teams from Ubisoft Mainz have also worked on Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege and the upcoming Beyond Good and Evil 2.

Reason enough to invite a distinguished visitor to the 30th anniversary of the studio, which was founded in 1995 as Related Designs. And they were more than happy to attend. In Mainz, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot met Alexander Schweitzer, Minister President of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, among others. ‘As the largest games studio in the region, it is a role model and centre of attraction for up-and-coming talent and international specialists,’ says Schweitzer, who is aware of the appeal of Ubisoft Mainz. Although Rhineland-Palatinate is not nominally one of the leading German games locations, it has excellent games degree programmes at the local universities and a lively indie scene. Schweitzer is also aware of this: "Since 2020, the number of video game studios in Rhineland-Palatinate has risen by 46 per cent, and Ubisoft is contributing to this as a beacon and driver of innovation."

Guests, including Nino Haase (Mayor of Mainz), Doris Ahnen (Finance Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate) and Petra Dick-Walther (State Secretary for Economic Affairs), were also given a sneak preview of Ubisoft Mainz's new game: Anno 117: Pax Romana. The latest and eagerly awaited game from the Anno IP will be released in winter 2025. It received almost €5.7 million in federal funding.

This alone shows how much Ubisoft Mainz has developed. Founded in 1995 by four friends as Related Designs, the studio financed the development of its titles with advertising games in the early years and later attracted attention with America, No Man's Land and Castle Strike. In 2006, it took over the 3rd instalment of the successful series with Anno 1701.

"Ubisoft Mainz is a flagship development studio and impressively demonstrates that computer games from Germany can reach an audience of millions around the world," says Benedikt Grindel, Zone Managing Director at Ubisoft. "It is a very special moment for Thomas and his team at Ubisoft Mainz to celebrate this milestone. And now we are looking forward to Anno 117: Pax Romana."