Haven’t taken the plunge into ancient Rome yet? Ubisoft is giving everyone free access to Anno 117: Pax Romana starting tomorrow, February 26, running through March 2. The full game will be playable across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Amazon Luna with no strings attached, and no credit card required.
When and Where to Play
This free weekend kicks off tomorrow and runs through Sunday, March 2, giving players nearly a full week to explore what the Roman city-builder has to offer. According to Ubisoft, this isn’t a stripped-down demo—you’ll have access to the complete game during the trial period, including the expansion to Celtic Albion that lets you choose between maintaining local traditions or enforcing Roman customs.
Platform availability is impressively broad. PC players can grab it through Steam, the Epic Games Store, or Ubisoft’s own storefront. Console players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S can download it directly from their respective stores, and cloud gaming fans can stream it via Amazon Luna. Those already subscribed to Ubisoft+ have access regardless, but the free weekend opens the gates for everyone else.
If you’ve been curious about the Anno franchise but weren’t ready to commit to a purchase, this is about as risk-free as it gets. Just be warned: the Anno series is notorious for its “just one more production chain” addictiveness, and a week might be enough time to get thoroughly hooked.
Twitch Drops Sweeten the Deal
Ubisoft is pairing the free weekend with a Twitch Drops campaign that actually extends well beyond the trial period. Starting February 26 at 6PM CET and running through March 12, viewers can earn exclusive cosmetic items just by watching linked Anno 117 streams. The Callinectes Logo unlocks after one hour of viewing, while the Venusian Shell Logo requires two hours total.
The extended timeframe here is notable—you’ve got two full weeks to claim these drops, meaning you don’t need to rush during the free weekend itself. If you end up purchasing the game after the trial, you can continue earning the drops at your leisure. Just remember to link your Twitch and Ubisoft accounts before you start watching, or those hours won’t count toward anything.
For content creators in the Anno community, this campaign should drive some additional viewership their way. Ubisoft has been increasingly leaning on Twitch integration for its titles, and these cosmetic incentives give streamers a tangible reason to fire up their broadcasts during the promotional window.
What You’re Getting Into
For those unfamiliar with the franchise, Anno 117: Pax Romana marks the series’ first venture into ancient Rome. The Anno games are city-builders at heart, but they’re a particular breed—less about plopping down residential zones and more about managing intricate production chains and economic systems. If you’ve played Anno 1800, which was set during the Industrial Revolution, you’ll find familiar mechanics wrapped in a dramatically different historical package.
The game takes place during the Pax Romana period, roughly spanning 27 BC to 180 AD, when the Roman Empire was at relative peace and expanding its cultural influence. Beyond the Italian peninsula, you’ll have the opportunity to expand into Celtic Albion—that’s Roman Britain to us—where you’ll face decisions about whether to integrate local Celtic traditions or impose Roman customs on the population. It’s a layer of cultural diplomacy that adds complexity beyond pure economic optimization.
Fair warning for newcomers: the Anno series has a reputation for being simultaneously relaxing and deeply complex. You might spend your first few hours just figuring out why your citizens are unhappy about their bread supply, only to realize you need a whole chain of wheat farms, flour mills, and bakeries working in harmony. It’s the kind of game that rewards patience and planning, which isn’t for everyone—but a free weekend is the perfect opportunity to find out if it’s for you.
Beyond the Free Weekend
If the trial convinces you to buy, Ubisoft offers a few purchasing options. The standard edition gets you the full base game, while the Gold Edition bundles in the Year 1 Pass for additional content down the line. The Year 1 Pass is also available separately if you want to start with the base game and expand later.
One thing Ubisoft’s announcement doesn’t clarify is whether progress carries over if you purchase after the free weekend. This is typically the case with these promotions, but we’d recommend checking the FAQ on your platform of choice before investing dozens of hours into a save file. Similarly, the publisher hasn’t explicitly announced any accompanying discount, though free weekends are often paired with sales—keep an eye on your preferred storefront starting tomorrow.
The timing of this promotion is worth noting. Free weekend events for established titles usually signal either an upcoming content drop or a push to boost the player base ahead of something. Whether Ubisoft has new Anno 117 content in the pipeline or is simply trying to maximize the game’s reach, the practical outcome for players is the same: free access to a substantial city-builder for nearly a week.
The free weekend begins tomorrow, February 26. If you’re planning to chase those Twitch Drops, get your accounts linked tonight so you’re ready to go when streams start populating at 6PM CET. Your Roman empire awaits—at least until March 2.
