Anno 117's First DLC Brings Volcanic Mayhem to Your Roman City

Ubisoft has officially revealed that the first downloadable content for the city-building sequel, Anno 117: Pax Romana, is launching later this month. The new expansion, titled Prophecies of Ash, will allow players to disregard history by constructing their Roman metropolis next to a massive, active volcano. This addition introduces Cinis, the largest island featured in the entire series yet, looming ominously over your settlement with natural peril.

A Volcanic Expansion Named Cinis

Rather than introducing an entirely new map, Prophecies of Ash serves as an expansion to the existing Latium province. The trailer for this DLC suggests that the volcanic island of Cinis is a bountiful location for development, offering plentiful river slots and mining nodes for your citizens to exploit.

To support growth in this challenging environment, the game introduces Obsidian, a new resource essential for crafting unique items like carved idols and boardgames. This requires establishing fresh production chains within your economy to utilize this rare material effectively.

Surviving Natural Disasters and Divine Intervention

Naturally, building a city in the shadow of an active volcano comes with significant hazards that threaten your infrastructure. While the trailer does not explicitly detail every mechanic, it clearly shows giant rocks blasting from the crater and crashing into buildings within your settlement. According to a Ubisoft press release, these volcano-based mechanics will include eruptions, volcanic winters, and a mysterious "bloom phase."

It is highly likely that:

  • Volcanic Winters will negatively impact agricultural productivity.
  • The Bloom Phase could send food production into overdrive under specific conditions.
  • Eruptions will directly hinder basic food supply chains and damage structures.

To mitigate these risks, players can construct a dedicated temple to Vulcan. This religious structure provides crucial bonuses that boost mine productivity and significantly enhance your city's fire safety, an essential feature given the dangerous environment you are forced to inhabit.

Can Prophecies of Ash Save the Game's Reputation?

Prophecies of Ash is scheduled for launch on April 23, a date players will watch closely as it tests how this expansion affects the somewhat muddled reputation of Anno 117. The base game currently holds a 'Mixed' rating on Steam, partly due to Ubisoft Mainz's controversial inclusion of AI art in the initial release (which has since been removed) and a general sense that the title launched in an incomplete state.

Critics have noted that the third act of the campaign's story was cut from the final build, leaving a narrative gap for some fans. However, these issues did not prevent Anno 117 from achieving the most successful launch for the entire series to date. Our own Phil Iwaniuk awarded it an 80 in our review, noting that the game finds its purpose through its setting and characterisation.

"Anno 117 finds a reason for being with its setting and characterisation, giving you new resources and supply chains using a ready-made and polished interface," Iwaniuk wrote back in November. "I’ve been surprised to find that’s exactly the pace to keep me compelled towards this chocolate-box depiction of Rome."

With Prophecies of Ash bringing such high-stakes environmental challenges, it remains to be seen if this expansion will satisfy the community and solidify the series' future.