Ubisoft’s Anno Twitter account made a stunning announcement on Twitter saying that Anno 117: Pax Romana is coming out in exactly 1 day, 1 hour, and 7 minutes. They highlighted the very exact countdown by stating it again and giving a last push for pre-orders. The response of the gaming community was… let’s just say a blend of delight, bewilderment, and even confusion.
Why is this release going on? Anno 117: Pax Romana is the new title of the widely recognized city-building and economic simulation series. The pre-order promotion is indeed real, but the timing has caused enormous misunderstandings. Just after the announcement, a lot of people pointed out that the official countdown is not in sync with what is being shown on Steam. User Jestersheepy voiced a very prevalent worry, “Steam says 1 day and 6 hours from now which doesn’t agree with your launch window; is this correct? I have taken the day off to play and if steam is right, I have to wait another day.” This was pretty much what happened with the comments of others like spacedogmike and monster_arnab who were also confused. What a terrible day to launch!
The question regarding pre-orders continues to be debated. The tweet’s “last chance to pre-order!” message received very negatively. User lonelyPorterCH succinctly asked, “Why would I preorder it if it launches in an hour anyways?” It’s a valid point given that pre-ordering has become a very controversial issue. User InVernus took the sentiment to the extreme when he replied to another user, “I hope it runs like crap. You idiots won’t stop pre-ordering dog shit. DON’T PRE-ORDER.” Ouch. That was harsh, but it represents a growing concern among gamers regarding the buying of games before reviews are out.
Nevertheless, it’s not all doom and gloom. In the midst of confusions and pre-order doubts, there is a contingent of gamers who are very eager for the release. User PaladinCentral smirkingly said, “Pre loaded it today! Can’t wait!” while khromtx has already organized his gaming time, “I’m eating good tomorrow at 5 PM if that’s the release time for CST! Can’t wait.” Excitement in the air among the history lovers, Realpolitik1984 shouting “I am cause I’m a huge Roman history buff.” JoweNootsak’s question, “Is anyone actually counting this down?” got a loud yes from many users, including Luckywandering1 who even took a day off work for the release. That is some serious commitment!
However, the launch is situated in a loud neighborhood. A constant topic in the replies was the competing game, and several users like Stixx313 and StablexDweller said, “Everyone playing EU5” while sharing memes about Europa Universalis V. It looks like Anno 117’s release is coinciding with that of another big strategy game, which is dividing the community. Some comments were curiously political as well, with a dispute between users Trumpwars and ThanosGambling turning into a weird argument about price and political inclination. Just… why?
Furthermore, there are worries about the game’s stability after the release. User FangtasiaT shared a hope that many others have: “I have it installed and I’m waiting. Fingers crossed it’s stable after fm26 console launch disaster and Fallout 4 anniversary ruining my mod list.” Players are worried about the recent troublesome launches of other games making it a valid reason for concern. Others were thinking ahead, with GraniteTheSton1 asking about the Gold Edition DLC timeline.
So what is the final resolution? The last hours before Anno 117: Pax Romana’s release are filled with an already familiar, classic modern gaming mix: real and pure excitement from loyal fans of the series, the confusion of launch times, the never-ending debate over pre-orders, and worries about performance. The community is in a way divided between those who can’t spare time to count down the minutes and those who are either skeptical or already engrossed in other games.
The question of whether the actual launch will solve these problems and deliver a smooth, enjoyable Roman empire-building experience remains. The legions are ready, but the gates to Rome are a bit rusty in opening. Soon enough, we will find out if the game can deliver “Roman Peace” in its title or if it will be chaotic from the start. The game will be available on PlayStation and Xbox.
