The gameplay includes 'World Events' special missions offered only for a limited time, allowing all players to band together and complete the missions. Resources and technology upgrades can be carried on Arks, and be used in another game in 'Continuous Mode'. Players can customize their Ark to fit personal preference, which is only for aesthetics, as well as gaining special rewards that affect gameplay. Players can also gain achievement and rewards from just playing the game. For example, voting for the Tycoons' CEO Skylar Banes will increase productivity of manufacturing buildings. Participation will give different effects to all players, depending on who is president or what bill was passed, until the next cycle of voting begins. Players can also vote for a World President and vote in Senate Council. All humankind rally under one global government where the three main factions of the game control the world's decisions. In Anno 2070, politics are no longer defined by countries, boundaries, religions, races, etc., but how humans choose to produce energy. The Techs are only available later in the game when 10,000 credits are donated to their cause.

The Tech is a support faction available to the other two, and they are useful in researching the latest and most powerful technologies. Tycoons are industrious and expand quickly, but have problems with pollution and dwindling resources. Ecos are environmental and build sustainable cities, but are inefficient and slow to expand. The game has three factions: The Eden Initiative (referred to as the 'Ecos'), Global Trust (referred to as the 'Tycoons'), and the S.A.A.T. Responsibility for settling and exploiting these new frontiers is given to a select group of people, who captain mobile ocean-going bases known as Arks. As a result, many old cities have vanished under the ocean, and much of what was once highland has been turned into chains of new islands. Global warming has melted the Arctic ice cap, which has raised the global sea level so that the coasts were flooded.

Anno 2070 ark upgrades