Anno 117 Developers Explain How Players Created an Unexpected Endgame Challenge

At Gamescom Dev in Cologne today, Ubisoft Mainz game designer Dominik Kirner presented a captivating postmortem detailing how emergent player behavior fundamentally reshaped the design of Anno 117: Pax Romana.

Kirner highlighted the design journey of the Imperial Fleet, which was originally conceptualized as an overwhelming, mathematically unbeatable naval force meant to punish players who violated imperial edicts. However, during early playtesting, dedicated strategy players consistently treated the fleet not as a warning, but as the ultimate tactical challenge, relentlessly building armada configurations to destroy it.

Rather than patching out player attempts or enforcing rigid script boundaries, Ubisoft Mainz embraced the emergent gameplay. The team restructured naval combat and rewards, converting what was once an impassable barrier into a legitimate, deeply satisfying endgame triumph. Read more game design breakdowns on /news.

Key Takeaways & FAQs

Category: Game Development. - Date: August 24, 2026. - Source: Ubisoft.

Q: What role was the Imperial Fleet originally designed for in Anno 117? A: It was originally designed as an invincible punitive force to deter players from breaking imperial edicts.

Q: How did Ubisoft Mainz respond to playtester behavior? A: They redesigned the fleet and combat mechanics into a fully playable endgame boss challenge.