Anno 117 Prophecies of Ash DLC: Build Your Roman City Next to an Active Volcano

Key Takeaways

• Prophecies of Ash launches April 23rd with Cinis, the biggest island in Anno series history
• The DLC adds volcanic mechanics including eruptions, volcanic winters, and bloom phases
• New Obsidian resource enables production of carved idols and boardgames
• Players can build a Temple of Vulcan to boost mining productivity and fire safety
• Anno 117 has mixed Steam reviews due to AI art controversy and cut campaign content

Look, I get it. City builders can sometimes feel a bit too safe. You optimize your production chains, balance your citizen needs, and eventually everything just hums along smoothly. Where's the drama in that? Ubisoft Mainz apparently agreed, because they're about to drop a DLC that basically says "here's a giant volcano, good luck with that."

Cinis: The Biggest Island Anno Has Ever Seen

Prophecies of Ash introduces Cinis, a volcanic island that expands the Latium province. This isn't just any island though. It's officially the largest landmass the Anno series has ever featured. That's a pretty big deal for a franchise that's been around since 1998.

The island comes packed with plentiful river slots and mining nodes, so you'll have tons of space to spread out your Roman civilization. There's also a brand new resource to play with: Obsidian. This volcanic glass lets you produce carved idols and boardgames, complete with entirely new production chains to figure out.

Playing With Fire (Literally)

Here's where things get spicy. Building in the shadow of an active volcano comes with consequences. The trailer shows giant rocks blasting out of the volcano and smashing into buildings. That's not a cutscene, that's gameplay. Your carefully arranged districts can absolutely get demolished by flying volcanic debris.

• Volcanic eruptions that launch destructive rocks at your city
• Volcanic winters that likely reduce agricultural productivity
• Bloom phases that probably boost crop yields significantly
• New fire safety concerns requiring strategic planning

Ubisoft's press release mentions three distinct volcanic mechanics: eruptions, volcanic winters, and something called a "bloom phase." My guess? The volcanic winters will tank your food production, mimicking what happens when ash blocks out sunlight. The bloom phase is probably the opposite, a period of exceptional fertility thanks to all those nutrient-rich volcanic minerals in the soil.

Anno 117's Rocky Launch (Pun Intended)

So here's the thing about Anno 117. The game has a "Mixed" rating on Steam, which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. Part of that comes from a pretty controversial decision to include AI-generated art in the game. Ubisoft has since removed it, but the damage to player trust was already done.

There's also frustration about the campaign feeling incomplete. The third act of the story was apparently cut before release, leaving players with an abrupt ending. That's never a great feeling when you've invested hours into a narrative.

But here's the kicker: none of this stopped Anno 117 from having the most successful launch in the series' entire history. Players clearly wanted a new Anno game, warts and all. PC Gamer's Phil Iwaniuk gave it a positive review, suggesting there's a solid foundation underneath the controversy.

What This DLC Needs to Accomplish

Prophecies of Ash has an interesting challenge ahead of it. The DLC needs to prove that Ubisoft is committed to supporting Anno 117 properly, not just releasing content that should have been in the base game. A volcanic island with new mechanics is a good start, but players are watching closely.

Release Date and What's Next

Prophecies of Ash launches on April 23rd. If you're already playing Anno 117, this seems like a solid reason to jump back in. If you've been on the fence about the game, maybe wait to see how the community receives this DLC before making a decision.

The volcanic setting is genuinely creative. Most city builders let you optimize your way to a perfect utopia. Anno 117 is now saying "sure, build your perfect city, but also here's a mountain that might explode." That tension between creation and destruction could make for some genuinely memorable gameplay moments.

The Historical Irony

I have to appreciate the historical humor here. The DLC is literally called "Prophecies of Ash" and features a Roman city built near a volcano. Anyone who paid attention in history class knows exactly where this is going. Pompeii and Herculaneum were real Roman cities buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Thousands of people died.

Anno 117 is letting you recreate that scenario, except this time you get to try preventing the disaster. Or at least surviving it. Build that Temple of Vulcan, keep your fire safety high, and maybe your little Roman citizens won't meet the same fate as their historical counterparts.

“Building a city in the shadow of a volcano comes with its own hazards.”

— Ubisoft, stating the obvious but also the entire point of this DLC

There's something weirdly compelling about that premise. City builders usually let you build toward perfection. This one is asking whether you can build toward survival instead. Can you create a thriving Roman settlement knowing that volcanic eruptions will periodically wreck your stuff? That's a fundamentally different design challenge.

Should You Care About This DLC?

If you enjoy Anno games, yes. The volcanic mechanics sound like they add genuine strategic depth rather than just being a reskinned disaster system. The new production chains around Obsidian will give you something fresh to optimize. And honestly, the Temple of Vulcan sounds like it could become a crucial strategic building that changes how you approach the entire map.

If you bounced off Anno 117 at launch due to the AI art or incomplete campaign, this DLC probably won't change your mind. Those issues stem from the base game, and Prophecies of Ash is adding new content rather than fixing old problems.

But for everyone else? A Roman city-builder where you're constantly negotiating with an active volcano sounds like exactly the kind of creative twist this genre needs. April 23rd isn't far away. We'll see if Prophecies of Ash delivers on its explosive promise.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Anno 117 Prophecies of Ash release?

The DLC launches on April 23rd, 2025.

Is Cinis a new separate map?

No, Cinis expands the existing Latium province rather than being a standalone map.

What new resources does the DLC add?

Prophecies of Ash introduces Obsidian, which can be used to create carved idols and boardgames through new production chains.

Will the volcano actually destroy my city?

Yes, the trailer shows volcanic rocks destroying buildings. You'll need to manage eruptions, volcanic winters, and other hazards.

Source: PCGamer latest