Ubisoft made waves at the PC Gaming Show 2025, unveiling three highly anticipated titles that underscore its commitment to innovation, genre diversity, and the dedicated PC gaming audience. The showcase introduced players to Anno 117: Pax Romana, a sprawling historical city-builder, The Rogue Prince of Persia™, a compelling 2D roguelite adventure, and Morbid Metal, an enthralling hack-and-slash roguelite with futuristic flair. This ambitious lineup promises to cater to varied gaming tastes, offering experiences rich in strategic empire-building, acrobatic platforming precision, and relentless cybernetic combat.
Ubisoft's Strategic Showcase: The Vision Unveiled
Capturing the Pulse of PC Gaming
Ubisoft's decision to shine at the PC Gaming Show is no coincidence. This event has long been a key platform to connect with the ever-evolving PC gaming ecosystem, where genres like city-builders, roguelites, and action-heavy titles thrive. PC gamers represent a dedicated audience, often craving detailed mechanics, rich visuals, and experiences tailored for intricate gameplay.
Ubisoft’s showcased titles reflect this understanding, spanning genres that typically flourish on PC. The timing of these announcements—aimed at launches later in 2025—signals Ubisoft's strategic positioning for the year-end gaming market. From cashing in on historical nostalgia Anno 117: Pax Romana to reimagining iconic franchises The Rogue Prince of Persia™ and introducing groundbreaking mechanic-driven IPs Morbid Metal, Ubisoft appears poised to redefine its edge in PC game publishing.
A Portfolio of Bold Moves
The three titles unveiled at the showcase reflect Ubisoft’s focus on variety. Anno 117, the latest installment in the revered city-building series, draws on the grandeur and intrigue of the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, Ubisoft has breathed new life into the Prince of Persia™ franchise by transforming it into a roguelite adventure powered by procedural generation and fast-paced 2D action. Finally, Morbid Metal represents a daring leap into new territory, offering shapeshifting combat in a visually stunning hack-and-slash experience.
This lineup highlights Ubisoft’s deliberate strategy to connect with diverse audiences while simultaneously daring to innovate: it balances the familiarity of established intellectual properties with forward-thinking ideas that push boundaries.
Anno 117: Pax Romana – Forging Empires with Depth and Choice
Setting the Stage for Imperial Grandeur
Anno 117: Pax Romana is being heralded as the most ambitious installment in the Anno series, transporting players to the pinnacle of the Roman Empire during the year 117 AD. Developed by Ubisoft Mainz, the creators of the critically acclaimed Anno 1800, this title integrates historical accuracy with strategic depth, promising an empire-building experience of unparalleled scale.
Players will assume the role of a Roman Governor, tasked with managing diverse provinces spanning vibrant Latium heartlands and Celtic wetlands of Albion. But the stakes don’t stop at administrative success; decisions will be influenced by political intrigue and personal ambition. Will you remain steadfast to the Emperor’s rule or plot rebellion against a watchful empire? The choice is yours, and the consequences are far-reaching.
Expanding Gameplay Frontiers
Pax Romana evolves the Anno formula by introducing new layers of complexity and customization. Here’s a closer look at some of the standout features:
- Cultural Assimilation: Players govern provincial cultural identities, choosing between enforcing Roman traditions or embracing local customs. These choices affect population happiness, cultural development, and imperial favor.
- Organic City Design: Diagonal roads and flexible building placements allow for creatively tailored city layouts, breaking from rigid grid-based structures.
- Immersive Day-Night Cycles: A fully integrated 24-hour cycle brings dynamic environments alive while influencing gameplay.
- Religion System: Build shrines and temples, dedicating them to Roman or regional gods to unlock empire-boosting bonuses.
- Ship Customization: Ancient Roman ships can be modified with combat weaponry, hull designs, and unique features, satisfying strategic micromanagers and casual builders alike.
- Production Placement Synergies: Resource production buildings now have direct, symbiotic effects on nearby areas, adding a layer of tactical city-planning.
The addition of diplomacy, economic specialization, and optional military conquest further elevates the scope of the game. Whether players opt for peaceful trade routes or expansionist warfare, Pax Romana offers a strategic sandbox where every decision counts.
The Rogue Prince of Persia™ – Acrobatic Combat Meets Roguelite Daring
Reimagining a Classic Icon
Revitalizing the Prince of Persia™ franchise, Evil Empire—the creators of Dead Cells—have crafted a fast-paced roguelite steeped in procedural levels, intense combat, and parkour perfection. Players embody the titular Rogue Prince, navigating deadly traps and foes in fluid runs fueled by precision acrobatics and powerful medallions that alter combat dynamics.
Inspired by 2D classics and roguelite gameplay, The Rogue Prince of Persia™ strikes a thematic harmony between nostalgia and modern gameplay innovation. Armed with diverse weaponry and strategic upgrades available across runs, players will find unique paths to achieve both mastery and redemption.
The Evolution of Early Access
After a successful Steam Early Access phase—which began on May 27, 2024—The Rogue Prince of Persia™ has radically expanded, incorporating community-driven feedback. Evil Empire aims to double its content offerings for the planned 1.0 launch in August 2025. Updates will include additional levels, weapons, enemy types, bosses, and story acts.
This iterative process demonstrates Ubisoft’s willingness to nurture a beloved IP within emerging genres, with robust replayability and deliberate refinements making it a worthy revival for longtime fans.
Morbid Metal – Shapeshift, Slash, Survive
Shaking Up Action Roguelites
Debuting as a new futuristic IP, Morbid Metal stands apart with its innovative Real-Time Shapeshifting mechanic. Players seamlessly switch between four unique character forms, each tailored to different combat styles and weapons. The result? A fluid, high-octane system that merges versatility with tactical mastery.
Set across semi-procedurally generated biomes—from dystopian wastelands to lush overgrown ruins—the game promises polished visuals and meticulously designed maps to enhance its hack-and-slash gameplay.
Screen Juice: Fresh Blood in Game Development
Developed by German indie studio Screen Juice, Morbid Metal represents a partnership between emerging creative talent and Ubisoft's global publishing arm. This collaboration offers fresh voices a platform to thrive while allowing Ubisoft to diversify its portfolio.
The game's visually stunning demo has already received acclaim, positioning it as a high-potential entry in the competitive roguelite landscape.
A Calculated Gambit: Ubisoft's 2025 Vision
Variety as Strategy
Ubisoft’s PC Gaming Show lineup marks a clear departure from formulaic approaches, placing emphasis on creative exploration and calculated risk. While Anno 117: Pax Romana anchors the strategy genre with its existing series pedigree, the well-received Early Access journey of The Rogue Prince of Persia™ introduces roguelite enthusiasts to a fresh take on beloved lore. Meanwhile, Morbid Metal carves out its niche as an entirely new IP with unprecedented combat mechanics.
The diversity of these projects reflects Ubisoft’s deliberate efforts to reduce genre dependencies, stimulate innovation, and strike a balance between old and new.
A Strong Finish for 2025
With release dates clustered in late 2025, Ubisoft is positioning these titles to maximize market impact during Q3 and Q4, a critical period for sales. Previews paint an optimistic picture, indicating a strong conclusion to Ubisoft’s fiscal year and an opportunity to win over varied player demographics.
Bright Horizons for PC Gamers
Anno 117: Pax Romana, The Rogue Prince of Persia™, and Morbid Metal each promise a unique experience, blending meticulous design with innovative gameplay. Whether you're crafting provinces in the Roman Empire, wielding acrobatic precision against magical foes, or shapeshifting your way through mechanized chaos, Ubisoft’s latest offerings represent a genuine effort to enrich the gaming landscape.
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As the publisher pushes boundaries across genres, this diverse lineup is poised to catapult Ubisoft into an exciting new era of creative exploration—with PC gamers leading the charge. 2025 just got a lot more interesting.
