Anno players have been waiting for Anno 117: Pax Romana’s first official season to begin with the release of the first DLC. Titled “Prophecies of Ash,” the Anno 117 DLC finally has a release date: April 23, 2026. Announced during the Anno Day livestream on April 9th by Ubisoft Mainz, players also got their first look at gameplay in a new trailer.
“Prophecies of Ash raises the stakes of the game while providing our community with opportunities to be more strategic as they navigate the complexities that come with growing their Roman empire,” Stéphane Jankowski, Executive Producer on Anno, said in a release to press.
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If you haven’t picked up Anno 117 just yet, this first Anno 117 DLC is a good time to start as the game begins to expand. In our review, we said:
“Anno 117: Pax Romana is a remarkably expansive game that I can sit and play for hours, even with its little notifications telling me to take a break. This is one of the best games I’ve played all year. There is a great deal of depth and customization that really showcases player choice and creativity, with an unbeatable replayability.
Additionally, you can see the building blocks that are in place for this game to expand, and yet, Anno 117 itself doesn’t feel like it’s missing any pieces, waiting for that content to come. The Ubisoft Mainz team really hit it out of the coliseum with Anno 117: Pax Romana, and I am excited to see what is in store post-launch.”
What is Prophecies of Ash about?
While the already expansive title has kept players engaged, most have been getting antsy waiting for Anno 117 to begin meeting the depth and size of Ubisoft Mainz’s previous title, Anno 1800. As players started to conquer the challenges already in the game, especially in Albion, the challenges are only going to get steeper with a new island, a new resource—oh, and the threat of a devastating volcano that can erupt at any moment, forcing fire safety to an all-new level.
Watch the Trailer
The official synopsis reads:
Prophecies of Ash is the first major update for Anno 117: Pax Romana, bringing in several features, including a new deity to worship, a resource known as obsidian, a trader named Ceacilia, and Cinis – the largest island ever in the Anno series and home to a volcano that threatens to erupt at any moment. These additions will challenge players and expand their options for governing their empire.
What is the first Anno 117 DLC release date?
The first Anno 117 DLC will be available on Ubisoft Connect, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on April 23, 2026. Players can pick up the DLC for a standalone purchase, or via the Year 1 Pass that includes all three Anno 117 DLC that will release in 2026: Prophecies of Ash (April), The Hippodrome (August), and Dawn of the Delta (November).
What can players expect from the free update?
Like with all of the previous DLCs, “Prophecies of Ash” also introduces a free update. While we don’t have a full list of optimizations on the way with the update, players can expect that information closer to launch if Ubisoft Mainz sticks with previous DLC schedules.
Other Anno Day Announcements
Ubisoft Mainz also announced a friend referral program running from April 9 to May 12, 2026, that will reward players with Fame Points for every friend they refer to the game. These Fame Points can then be used in the Hall of Fame in-game to unlock additional cosmetics, new music tracks, and more.
- One referral leads to 30 Fame Points
- Two referrals are 50 Fame Points
- Three referrals unlock 90 Fame Points.
