Gaming

Anno 117: Pax Romana had me questioning my strategic skills

In the best way possible

Published

August 24, 2025

Citybuilder aficionados will have something new to chew into with Anno 117: Pax Romana. The game is set to release on November 13, 2025. It’ll be available on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and Windows PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect.

Ubisoft was kind enough to give us the opportunity to play the game for one hour and it’s one that most definitely deserves your attention. That’s especially true if you have any interest at all in the Roman Empire.

What is Anno 117?

Anno 117: Pax Romana, as mentioned earlier, is a citybuilder, real-time strategy game. Some shades of the Civilization franchise for those most familiar with the series. Here, you manage the economy of a budding city as the Roman Empire enlarges its territory.

You play as a newly appointed governor, sent by the Emperor to build and lead several provinces across the Empire. You’re tasked to build cities from the ground up: from the beautiful heartlands of Latium to the mysterious Celtic wetlands of Albion, where no civilized Roman wants to be.

Real-time strategy builder

So, confession: It’s been ages since I played anything remotely like Anno 117. That said, the concept of building a city from the ground-up to expand an empire did tickle my fancy.

The demo starts with you choosing which faction to build from. The first one is a people that would be more accepting of the Roman ways. The other – The Albion – would be more resistant and challenging.

The Albion is an experience that’s first showcased at gamescom 2025 so I figured I’d go with that. In hindsight, perhaps I should have chosen the easier path first, especially for someone who hasn’t played this type of game in a while.

The game does hold your hand a little bit to start. There are plenty of bits and pieces of tutorials to guide you through. The game tells you which buildings to build first, shows you what resources you need, and constantly prompts you to decide whether to increase your population.

Despite that, it never felt like I was being told exactly how to play. The decision on where to place your residents, resource structures, storage facilities, and more still fall on your lap.

Managing multiple things at once

As the governor, you’re tasked with what seems to be an impossible balancing act. You have to make sure that you’re growing the population and meeting their needs at the same time. These needs start off as just food. But as the city grows, so do their needs.

Other than this, you have to make sure the city is running smoothly. To do that, you need to be efficient in managing where the funds go, and ensuring all manufacturing structures function efficiently.

It can be a tall order, but it’s a level of challenge that pushes you to want to do well instead of quitting outright.

Mercury is one of the Roman deities your city can choose to worship.

I didn’t get to this part but in the briefing before the start of the demo, we were also told that part of the things the community of your city will need is some sort of religious system. Who they deem as their deity also determines the abilities and attributes of your citizens.

A game for aspiring public servants?

I ended the playthrough nearly burning through all my resources and being unable to fix the issue on a few of my manufacturing facilities. It really had me questioning my strategic abilities. But I’m gonna chalk this one up to having zero experience with the Anno franchise.

One interesting thought I had as I was fleshing out this article is how Anno 117: Pax Romana is the perfect simulation game for aspiring public servants. As I write this, there’s a growing issue in my home country. It’s about how flood control funds were mismanaged by public officials and their contractors.

I just had a brain fart of how this game simulates governance work. Perhaps more people will gain appreciation for real governance, its pitfalls and challenges, if they played a game like this. I digress.

Anno 117: Pax Romana was hailed as the Best PC game at gamescom 2025 – and for good reason. It’s a unique challenge with fantastic presentation. From my demo experience, it feels like it can be a bit of a timesink – one that might just sharpen the way you strategize.

Gaming

NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer showcases new dunk mechanics, Rucker Park, and more

First gameplay details revealed

Published

July 29, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

NBA 2K27 is giving fans their first look at this year’s gameplay.

2K has released the official gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27, showcasing enhanced visuals and several gameplay updates ahead of the game’s September 4 launch. The trailer also features cover athletes Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose while teasing changes across Gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and the MyPLAYER Builder.

The publisher also confirmed the Preseason Breakdown: NBA 2K27 Game Reveal, which streams on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT. During the presentation, 2K will reveal this year’s biggest gameplay innovations and mode updates before Early Access begins on August 28 for Deluxe Edition and Ultra Edition owners.

Smarter AI and a new Dunk Meter headline gameplay changes

NBA 2K27 introduces several gameplay refinements based on community feedback.

AI defenders now contest shots more effectively and hold their defensive positioning better, especially in online modes like The REC. The changes aim to create a more balanced experience on both ends of the floor.

The game also introduces a fully dynamic Dunk Meter. Instead of locking in the timing at takeoff, the meter continuously evaluates defensive positioning throughout the dunk attempt. Open driving lanes create a larger green window, while late defensive rotations shrink it, making each dunk attempt feel more responsive to the action on the court.

MyPLAYER Builder expands with more Badges

The MyPLAYER Builder now features 53 total Badges, up from 40 in last year’s game. Players can also experiment with 19 brand-new Badges designed to support more specialized builds.

Cap Breakers are also making a return. This time, players can preview attribute boosts directly inside the Builder before finalizing their character.

MyTEAM and MyNBA receive community-requested updates

MyTEAM introduces the franchise’s first unified Auction House across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The shared marketplace creates the largest pool of community-listed cards in the mode’s history. It should also make card prices more consistent across supported platforms.

Winning an auction is now faster, too. Purchased cards go straight into your collection without a verification delay.

MyNBA also receives several franchise management updates that reflect today’s NBA. These include second apron salary cap rules from the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement and the ability to offer No-Trade Clauses to free agents.

Rucker Park comes to MyCAREER

The City returns with the same centralized layout introduced last year. This time, however, it gets a new nighttime look filled with neon lights.

NBA 2K27 also recreates the legendary Rucker Park. The iconic streetball court serves as the setting for this year’s MyCAREER prelude story, Fire & Concrete, and also appears in the Street Kings mode.

NBA 2K27 launches on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition can jump in early starting August 28 through Early Access.

Watch the full trailer.

Gaming

God of War Laufey finally confirms its highly anticipated launch date

Set your calendars next year.

Published

July 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

It’s about time we get excited for God of War Laufey. The upcoming entry into the acclaimed franchise takes off on a tangent as it follows Faye, Kratos’s late wife, as she traverses an afterlife filled with similarly deceased gods. It’s a different perspective but with still the same action we’ve come to expect from the series. Now, we know when to expect it: February 16.

In the ongoing Norse saga, Faye’s death is everything. Her passing pushes Kratos and Atreus towards a path that eventually led to Ragnarok. In Laufey, a deceased Faye wakes up in Everywhen, an afterlife where gods from different mythologies converge. She then discovers that the carefully laid plans she made to help her husband and her son are unravelling, so she has to find a way to save the living world from past the veil.

Laufey will still have the iconic battles that the God of War series is known for. However, because Faye is nimbler than the burly Kratos, fighting is more fast-paced with a mix of grounded and air-based fighting. All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about for Laufey, despite its different take on the series.

Over the weekend, during San Diego Comic Con, PlayStation confirmed when the title is launching. Thankfully, it’s not a long wait. God of War Laufey is launching for the PlayStation 5 on February 16 next year.

Additionally, Santa Monica Studio has also confirmed that Kratos will lead another entry after Laufey.

Gaming

FINAL FANTASY X | X-2 HD Remaster launches on Nintendo Switch 2

Classic RPGs returng

Published

July 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have announced that FINAL FANTASY X | X-2 HD Remaster is now available on Nintendo Switch 2. Physical copies are also on sale across Southeast Asia.

The collection brings together FINAL FANTASY X and FINAL FANTASY X-2, two of the most celebrated entries in the long-running RPG franchise. Both games feature enhanced HD visuals while preserving their original stories and gameplay.

Two classic adventures in one package

In FINAL FANTASY X, players follow Tidus, a star blitzball athlete whose journey becomes intertwined with the summoner Yuna as they travel across the world of Spira to confront a devastating threat.

Its direct sequel, FINAL FANTASY X-2, takes place two years later. Players take control of Yuna alongside Rikku and Paine as they uncover ancient mysteries and face new enemies.

The release also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original launch of the game in Japan, giving longtime fans and newcomers another opportunity to experience the pair of RPG classics at home or on the go.

Bandai Namco notes that physical edition availability may vary by country across Southeast Asia.

Watch the launch trailer below:

About the FINAL FANTASY series

The FINAL FANTASY franchise has entertained players for more than 35 years. Known for its cinematic storytelling, memorable characters, imaginative worlds, and technical innovation, the series has sold more than 212 million copies worldwide.