Here’s how to unlock the hidden first-person view in Anno 117: Pax Romana – including all functions and control options.
Anno 117: Pax Romana hides a camera Easter egg that officially “doesn’t exist,” yet has been part of the series for years. You can stroll through your streets up close, watch residents go about their day, and trigger small interactions. This guide shows you exactly how to unlock both the first-person and third-person views — on PC, PS5, and Xbox — and what you can do once you’re inside the mode.
Activating First-Person View on PC
Activating the feature on PC is simple. While in normal gameplay, press:
- Ctrl + Shift + R
You’ll first enter an over-the-shoulder third-person view. To switch to true first-person, fully zoom in with the mouse wheel. Move with WASD, sprint with Shift, and jump with the space bar.
- Important: Make sure no menu is open and no building is selected — otherwise the input won’t register.
Unlocking First-Person View on PS5 and Xbox
On consoles, the feature activates via the classic Konami Code.
- PS5: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Circle, X
- Xbox Series X/S: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A
Use the D-pad for the directional inputs. If entered correctly, the camera instantly snaps into character mode. To switch between third-person and first-person, hold R1/RB and move the right stick closer to your character.
How to Move and Control Your Character
PC Controls
- WASD: Move
- Shift: Sprint
- Space: Jump
- Mouse wheel: Switch between first-person/third-person
- Left-click NPCs/carts: Interactions (when available)
PS5 & Xbox Controls
- Movement: left stick
- Sprint: R2/RT
- Jump: X (PS5) / A (Xbox)
- High jump: Hold the button
- Camera distance: Hold R1/RB + right stick
- Switch character: L1/LB
- Return to city-builder view: Hold Circle/B
- Interactions: Square (PS5) / X (Xbox)
What You Can Do in First-Person Mode
This may be an Easter egg, but it comes with a surprising number of small features.
You can:
- walk through your city and inspect streets, houses, and production buildings up close
- switch between various randomly selected character models
- sprint and jump to squeeze through tight spaces
- ride or pull carts
- peek inside certain production buildings
- click on NPCs, who sometimes react
- trigger minor hidden actions depending on the situation
Notes and Limitations of the Mode
The first-person view does not pause the game — meaning your city continues to develop while you’re walking around. Expect occasional glitches, odd camera jumps, or quirky NPC animations, since the mode isn’t fully developed. Some interactions also may not work in every region or scenario, leading to inconsistent behavior from time to time.
