Anno 117: Pax Romana treats multiplayer as a flexible layer that you can add to almost any session. You can compete head-to-head, share a faction with friends, or stitch both together into large team matches. The campaign itself supports co-op, and cross-play is available across platforms when enabled in settings.
Multiplayer modes and player counts
| Mode | How it works | Players per side | Total players | Campaign support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PvP (governors) | Up to four rival governors, any mix of humans and AI; trade, ally, or fight on land and sea. | 1 per governor | Up to 4 | No (campaign is co-op only) |
| Co-op (shared governor) | Up to four people control the same governor, sharing money, resources, islands, and responsibilities. | Up to 4 controlling one governor | Up to 4 | Yes (up to 4 players total) |
| Hybrid teams | Mix PvP and co-op. Example: four co-op players vs AI rivals or multiple co-op teams competing. | Up to 4 per governor | Up to 16 (4v4v4v4) | Campaign remains co-op, not team PvP |
In co-op, sharing tasks is encouraged: one player can oversee Albion while another focuses on Latium. Teams can also be arranged so each “governor” is a co-op group, enabling those 16-player matches across four factions.
Co-op in the campaign
The main campaign supports co-op with up to three friends (four players total). Everyone plays as one governor with a shared economy and territory. It’s the same co-op model as sandbox, but applied to story progression.
Match setup, invites, and joining mid-run
Setup is unified: you aren’t forced into separate “single-player” or “multiplayer” flows. From the game setup screen you can:
- Fill any empty governor slots with humans, AI, or keep them empty for a quieter map.
- Choose a starting province per player or per co-op group; a co-op group’s leader picks for the team.
- Invite friends at any time to turn an existing single-player save into a co-op session or to add human rivals.
Matches are invite-only and require people to be on your friends list. A “Friend Game” toggle lets friends join without a direct invite. There’s no public server browser.
Live co-op savegames (cloud and asynchronous play)
Hosts can enable “co-op live savegames” during setup. With this option on:
- The save is stored in the cloud and only the most recent state is kept.
- Any participant can continue the save solo and re-invite others later.
- Friends can jump into an ongoing session by loading the current live save—no lobby scheduling required.
Cross-play (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Cross-platform play is supported when enabled in the game’s options. With cross-play on, friends on different platforms can join invite-only matches or use “Friend Game” to hop in if there’s an open slot.
Multiplayer rules and limitations
- Game speed: No speed controls in multiplayer. The active pause exists and can be triggered by the host.
- Mods: Supported in multiplayer, but every participant must activate the same mods.
- DLC: All players must own and enable the same gameplay DLCs selected during setup.
- Cosmetics and identity: Players (or group leaders) can customize names, avatars, sigils, and colors.
- Day/night: The cycle is cosmetic and set per player, so each person can choose their preferred time of day.
- Chat: There is no in-game text or voice chat. Use your preferred external voice or text app to coordinate.
Known multiplayer issues at launch
There are a few stability caveats to keep in mind, particularly around joining in-progress sessions and late-game sync:
- Inviting someone into a session that’s already running can lead to a “TRAJAN” connectivity error.
- Joining a live co-op save that’s currently in progress may load a single-player copy for the joining player.
- Desyncs can occur more frequently toward the endgame.
Workaround for the first two: start or load the multiplayer/co-op game only after everyone has joined the lobby. For ongoing problems, submit details through the official Bug Reporter workflow at ubisoft.com/en-us/game/anno/117-pax-romana/bug-reporter.
Practical setup examples
- Casual duo: Enable co-op, invite one friend, share one governor, and split duties—one manages Albion, the other runs Latium.
- Trios vs AI: Three friends each run a separate governor against one AI, or play as a three-person co-op team against three AI governors.
- Large team session: Four co-op groups (up to four players per group) battle across a 4v4v4v4 map for a 16-player night.
Because sessions are invite-only, plan your roster up front, toggle “Friend Game” if you want friends to self-join, and only load into the save once everyone is in the lobby to avoid early hiccups.
Anno 117’s approach keeps the setup simple and the roles flexible. Whether you prefer a tight co-op build or a sprawling team contest, the tools are here—just remember to align mods and DLC, enable cross-play if needed, and coordinate outside the game for voice or text.
