Ubisoft - Biborg delivers the launch film for Anno 117: Pax Romana, Ubisoft’s most anticipated new chapter in the iconic strategy franchise

Six years after the previous installment, Ubisoft is launching Anno 117: Pax Romana on November 13 — the eighth title in its globally acclaimed city-building and strategy franchise developed by Ubisoft Mainz. Set during the height of the Roman Empire, the game invites players to take on the role of Governor. For this highly anticipated release, Ubisoft partnered with creative agency Biborg to design and produce the official launch trailer.
Having already created the launch film forAnno 1800 in 2019, Biborg builds on that legacy with Anno 117: Pax Romana, delivering a cinematic film - crafted in collaboration with Mathematic - that elevates the franchise’s storytelling and emotional scope.

Capturing the essence of gameplay in cinematic storytelling

Long awaited by the Anno community, this new chapter transports the franchise to Ancient Rome for the first time, while aiming to reach a broader audience. Biborg’s challenge was twofold: to capture the diversity of Anno 117’s gameplay, from intricate city-building to economic management and military expansion, while making the world approachable and engaging for newcomers. The film draws inspiration from the visual codes of Roman epic films - timeless symbols of cinematic spectacle. Setting its story in a monumental chamber where four Governors- representing different player archetypes - engage in a passionate debate over the future of their empire.

A dialogue between strategy and spectacle

The film’s concept centers on a single actor who portrays five roles — four Governors and one player - embodying the different ways to experience the game: whether focused on visuals, the economy, the military, or simply the pure joy of playing. The transformation was achieved through a thoughtfully designed range of costumes, hairstyles, and dialogue, enhanced with the help of a green screen and integrated into a monumental 3D recreation of a Roman palace.
Diverging visions collide in a theatrical debate, before the player regains control and delivers the final line: “Build Your Roman Empire”.

By blending live-action and gameplay footage, the trailer conveys both cinematic emotion and a true feel for what it’s like to play Anno 117. In addition to the full-length, two-minute version, the launch campaign includes a 30-second pre-roll and several 15-second cutdowns, each centered on a distinct Governor to engage different audiences.

To bring this project to life, Biborg partnered with production studio Mathematic, renowned for its high-quality work (Assassin’s Creed® Shadows, The Crew™ Motorfest), while the gameplay sequences were produced by KWM in Canada. The film was directed by Guillaume Cottet, Creative Director on Lil Nas X’s Montero, and Julien Lejour, whose cinematic eye lends the piece its distinctive strength.

Cyrian Thomas, Lead Account Director, Biborg: “Annois a remarkably crafted game, both in design and spirit. Our mission was to condense that richness into a grand, inviting story that reflects the passion of the Ubisoft teams behind it. We’re proud to have shaped this film with them, and to have reached such a high level of execution thanks to the talent of Mathematic and KWM.”

Thomas Purbeck, Creative Lead, Biborg: "By diving into a debate between four competing Governor visions within the same player, I think we created something fun and true to the many ways you can build your empire in Anno 117. Due to the lack of identical quintuplet actors on the market, it was a challenge turning one actor into five characters, so a big shout out to hair and makeup for their rapid brushwork, and to the directors for orchestrating authentic disagreements between one actor and himself."

Guillaume Cottet & Julien Lejour, Directors (Mathematic / Player Two) : “Creating this trailer was an incredible experience and a true honor to contribute to the launch of such an iconic franchise. There were many technical challenges, and the story and the Governors’ personalities were central to the project. The challenge was to design a world that felt grand and immersive without overpowering the actor or the intent — a setting that allowed each character to shine. We had to balance visual storytelling and performance direction to fully serve the concept. Everything was crafted with that in mind: the storyboard, 3D previsualizations, lighting, music, and choice of lenses and cameras. Together with Julien, we were fortunate to have an exceptional team behind us — the Biborg crew, the artists at Mathematic, and our on-set technicians. And of course, the film wouldn’t be what it is without our incredible actor, Ciaran Cresswell, nor without the ever-supportive Ubisoft team, who embraced our vision with enthusiasm. The result far exceeded our expectations.”

Lionel Hiller, VP, Executive Publisher Ubisoft:

“Anno 117 is the most ambitious entry in the Anno series to date, immersing players in one of its most exciting settings: the Roman Empire. For the game’s launch, we wanted a special film that fully embraces this central theme and, more importantly, the many facets and roles that players can embody as masterminds and strategists. We needed best-in-class partners to deliver on this vision and to capture the distinctive tone of voice Anno 117 brings to the series. We could not be prouder of the work done by our partners:Biborg, Mathematic & KWM who truly succeeded in bringing this vision to life. We hope players are as excited as we are to embark on a new journey into the world of Anno 117: Pax Romana.”