Anno 117: Pax Romana Breaks Series Records and Becomes the Fastest Selling Anno Ever With Early Updates on the Way

Anno 117: Pax Romana, developed by Ubisoft Mainz, has become the fastest selling entry in the twenty five year history of the Anno franchise. Ubisoft confirmed that the game achieved the strongest first week performance the series has ever seen. It reached the number two position on the global Steam sales chart and placed within the top three in major markets such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to GameDaily, Anno 117 surpassed every previous title in first week unit sales, launch engagement and revenue, which indicates a strong revival of interest in deep strategy and city builder games.

Critical Reception and Player Engagement

The game has also earned some of the highest review scores in the series. Early averages on Metacritic sit around eighty five, and OpenCritic lists a ninety four percent recommendation rate. Yahoo Tech notes that reviewers praised its balance between accessible city building and complex economic management. Ubisoft reported that players averaged more than three hours of daily play during launch week. GamesMarket Global highlights that Steam saw peak concurrent counts above fifty thousand, which is nearly double the peak of the previous title at release. These indicators point to strong long term potential if post launch support continues steadily.

Post Launch Roadmap, Hotfixes and First Updates

Ubisoft issued a hotfix shortly after launch to address multiplayer desynchronization problems and temporarily disabled cross play to stabilize the experience. A second major update will arrive during the first half of December. Although the studio has not yet shared the full changelog, ComputerBase reports that the patch will target performance issues, UI fixes and additional network improvements. Ubisoft also confirmed a complete Year One roadmap featuring multiple DLC packs, seasonal events and optional cosmetic collections. This follows the long term support cycle established by Anno 1800, which remained active for several years after release.

What Works Well and What Players Want Improved

Players appreciate Anno 117 for combining series traditions with new design ideas. The Roman Empire setting creates fresh possibilities for trade logistics, civic planning and cultural development. Reviewers have also praised the well structured tutorials, the layered economic systems and the large variety of regional goods. However, community discussion points to a few weaknesses. Some players criticize AI assisted elements in certain assets, and others report minor balance issues or bugs that appear in extended campaign sessions. Yahoo Tech notes that Steam reviews are mixed because early problems affected parts of the multiplayer experience. Many players expect the December update to resolve the most disruptive issues.

Why Anno 117 Matters for Strategy Fans and the Industry

The performance of Anno 117 shows that large scale city building games can still succeed in a market dominated by action and live service titles. The strong launch also validates Ubisoft Mainz and its commitment to detailed economic simulations. Industry watchers see the success as a sign that strategy players want long form, thoughtful games with consistent updates and transparent communication. For veterans of the genre, Anno 117 offers a modernized but faithful experience. For newcomers, it provides a clear starting point with room to grow as the Year One roadmap takes shape. If Ubisoft maintains its support timeline, Anno 117 could become one of the most influential city builders of the decade.