For those who obtained the game through unofficial means, a "crackfix" became necessary to bypass the game's DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection. Empress, being a prominent game development company, took notice of the cracked version and worked to provide a solution that would allow players to experience the game without issues.
When searching for "EMPRESS updates" or "Crackfixes," be extremely cautious. The piracy scene is often used as a front for malware. Avoid "Auto-Installers": anno 1800 crackfixempress upd