David vs. Goliath: Pax Augusta sets a new standard in city-building games

With Pax Augusta, an extraordinary solo indie project has successfully launched and is already making waves across the industry. German magazine GameStar praises the game as one that “sets the bar surprisingly high for Anno 117”​ a remarkable feat, especially considering the comparison to a major AAA production from Ubisoft.

What makes this success story unique: Pax Augusta was developed entirely by Swiss solo developer Roger Gassmann, who spent over seven years bringing his historical vision to life. Publishing support came from Senatis, founded by Wolfgang Duhr with deep roots in the strategy genre, having been involved in the original marketing of Anno 1602 and Anno 1503 but also Jagged Alliance, Tropico 6 and Commandos Series.

“You don’t need millions—just the right partners and passion for what you are doing”
Pax Augusta proves that meaningful games don’t require massive budgets. The key beside passion was a focused and collaborative partnership: Gassmann retained full creative control throughout development, while Senatis supported him where needed and handled marketing and distribution. A clear, respectful division of responsibilities turned out to be a recipe for success.

This is a true David vs. Goliath moment—an indie title setting the tone for an entire genre.

Looking ahead
Roger Gassmann is thrilled by the positive reception and deeply values the constructive criticism. He’s already working on improvements, with the first patches expected in the coming weeks. While the release marks a major milestone, the journey is far from over. The strong community response and passion from players are fueling the next chapter of Pax Augusta’s development.

Spotlight on Pax Augusta & G-Rebels After Pax Augusta was recently featured at the FYNG – Find Your Next Game Festival, our second title G-Rebels is also gaining momentum and was selected by FYNG. Developed by reakktor studios — the seasoned team behind the genre-defining cyberpunk MMO Neocron (2002) — G-Rebels has now earned a fresh expert recommendation. Feel free to have a look on STEAM: