Ubisoft announced that Anno 117: Pax Romana had already been played by over a million people, making it the fastest-selling game in the series' history. However, the release of the Prophecies of Ash DLC and Patch 1.5 has been postponed until 30 April 2026.
Since its release on 13 November 2025, Anno 117: Pax Romana has attracted 1.17 million players. This figure includes both purchasers of the full version of the game and users who played it via the Ubisoft+ Premium subscription service. This makes it the fastest-selling game in the series' history. This announcement comes shortly before the release of the first DLC, Prophecies of Ash, which was scheduled for 23 April 2026. However, due to an issue that could potentially corrupt game saves, Ubisoft has decided to postpone the release of Prophecies of Ash and Patch 1.5 to 30 April 2026.
"We are incredibly grateful for the amazing support from our players. Our team is dedicated and continuously responds to feedback. We are working hard to deliver the ambitious content planned for the first year, starting with the Prophecies of Ash expansion, which will surely motivate our fans to continue expanding their Roman Empire this year and beyond," says Stéphane Jankowski, Executive Producer of Anno.
Prophecies of Ash is being developed at Ubisoft Mainz, where the original game was created. It features Vulcan, the God of the Forge, as a new deity to worship, as well as the resource obsidian, the merchant Cecilia, and Cinis — the largest island ever to feature in the Anno series. Cinis is home to a volcano that threatens to erupt at any moment. "The volcano raises the stakes in the game and gives our community new opportunities to act more strategically as they face the complex challenge of expanding their Roman Empire," says Stéphane Jankowski. From 23 to 27 April, Ubisoft is holding a free Anno 117: Pax Romana weekend. The publisher is also currently offering a 'refer-a-friend' programme until 17 May, through which players can earn Fame Points for every person they refer.
Anno 117: Pax Romana - Prophecies of Ash (DLC #1) © Ubisoft
Prophecies of Ash can be purchased either individually or as part of the Year 1 Pass, which includes all three Gameplay DLCs for 2026. As with Anno 1800, purely cosmetic DLCs, such as Anno 117: Pax Romana - Marvellous Mosaic Pack, released in February 2026, are not included in the Year 1 Pass.
Following Prophecies of Ash, the second DLC is titled 'The Hippodrome' (August 2026) and features the largest monument in Anno history, inspired by the Circus Maximus. Players can host chariot races there to entertain their citizens, boost their prestige, and attract elite specialists from across the empire. The third DLC, titled Dawn of the Delta, will be released in November 2026. This DLC unlocks a new province with expansive deserts and a fertile river delta. Players must manage new population groups with their own needs and beliefs, striking a balance between Roman ambition and Egyptian tradition. The Year 1 Pass is included in the Gold Edition of Anno 1800 and can also be purchased separately for €34.99.
The development of Anno 117: Pax Romana has been supported by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of its video game funding programme.
