Ubisoft sets the date
Anno 117: Pax Romana will welcome The Hippodrome on August 20, 2026. This Anno 117 DLC is the game's second announced DLC, coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Ubisoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store.
Key facts
- Ubisoft announces The Hippodrome as the second Anno 117: Pax Romana DLC.
- The Hippodrome is scheduled for August 20, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Ubisoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store.
- The official livestream will take place on August 20 at 5 p.m. CEST / 8 a.m. PDT on twitch.tv/annogame.
- Ubisoft will showcase The Hippodrome's gameplay and the chariot races.
- The associated update will add a note-taking feature, a photo mode and other quality-of-life improvements.
For upcoming announcements, also check out the latest video game news.
The Hippodrome arrives on August 20
Ubisoft announced The Hippodrome on August 17, 2026, and set its arrival for August 20. The announcement date and the DLC's release date are therefore separate.
On the same day, Ubisoft will host an official livestream at 5 p.m. CEST, or 8 a.m. PDT, on Anno's Twitch channel. The broadcast is expected to showcase the DLC's gameplay and the chariot races. The event is available via the official Twitch livestream.
Ubisoft has confirmed the release day, but not the DLC's exact availability time. The livestream has a precise schedule, while the launch is dated only by day.
Chariot races are the main unknown
The Hippodrome becomes the second announced DLC for Anno 117: Pax Romana. Its name points toward a clear theme, but Ubisoft is keeping the details of its mechanics for the livestream. The presentation should show how the chariot races work and how they fit into the game.
The associated update goes beyond the new content. Ubisoft also mentions a note-taking feature and a photo mode, along with other quality-of-life improvements. These additions are confirmed, but their precise operation remains unknown.
The photo mode could prove especially useful in a game built around a Roman setting, provided players have enough freedom to frame and share their shots. That is an editorial expectation, not a feature Ubisoft has detailed.
The race rules, any potential rewards and their exact place in progression have not been confirmed. The livestream will need to establish whether the races are a one-off activity or a lasting system, and whether they are mainly a spectacle or a genuine player objective.
For more analysis of releases and updates, also visit our gaming articles. The Hippodrome will ultimately be judged by the depth of its integration, not by its name alone.
What the livestream will need to show
Comparison with city-builders and historical management games calls for caution. In this genre, a spectacular building does not necessarily renew the experience; players often expect a mechanic that changes their priorities. Ubisoft's announcement details neither the previous DLC nor The Hippodrome's systems, so the scale of the proposed change cannot yet be measured. For now, the publisher is placing the gameplay demonstration at the center of its announcement.
For players, August 20 will show whether the chariot races offer a substantial activity or an additional layer of presentation. Owners of the game will also be able to assess the value of the note-taking feature and photo mode. However, no price, edition or Ubisoft+ access terms have been confirmed. Waiting for the livestream before deciding whether to buy remains the most reasonable position.
The platforms are confirmed, the buying details are not
Ubisoft confirms three gaming platforms for this release: PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. On computer, The Hippodrome is announced via Ubisoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store.
No additional platform is mentioned in the announcement. The available information also does not confirm cooperative play, any particular multiplayer feature or different compatibility depending on the storefront. The source's silence should not be turned into a promise.
Console players will monitor the launch on their machine, while PC players will need to account for the storefront used for Anno 117: Pax Romana. Since the price and editions have not been indicated, the purchase cannot yet be assessed seriously.
The Ubisoft publication remains the reference for the confirmed details. It presents the date, platforms and livestream content in the same announcement, without adding a broader schedule. You can also consult the news section to follow the next details.
Frequently asked questions
When does The Hippodrome launch?
The Hippodrome, the second DLC announced for Anno 117: Pax Romana, is scheduled for August 20, 2026, with an associated update.
What will Ubisoft present during the livestream?
Ubisoft is expected to present The Hippodrome's gameplay and the chariot races. The update also includes a note-taking feature and a photo mode.
Which platforms is the DLC announced for?
The Hippodrome is announced for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Ubisoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store.
Where can you watch the livestream, and what remains to be confirmed?
The official livestream will take place on August 20 at 5 p.m. CEST / 8 a.m. PDT on Twitch. The DLC's exact launch time and price remain unknown.
To verify the information at the source, consult the official source.
Verified sources
These links allow you to verify the key information used in this article.
- news.ubisoft.com: Ubisoft News, published on 2026-08-17, confirms The Hippodrome as the second DLC, its announced launch on 2026-08-20, the platforms, the livestream and the update features; this official source is the reference for this information.
- staticctf.ubisoft.com: Direct Ubisoft visual asset linked to the announcement published on 2026-08-17; it provides the official image of The Hippodrome used for the cover.
- twitch.tv: Official Twitch channel indicated by Ubisoft for the livestream on 2026-08-20 at 5 p.m. CEST / 8 a.m. PDT, dedicated to the gameplay and chariot races.
