Ethan Crossfield 
Ananta finally has a release date. During Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, NetEase showed new gameplay from its free-to-play anime open-world game and confirmed that players can begin exploring its two major cities on January 15, 2027. Formerly known as Project Mugen, Ananta is positioning itself as a fast-moving alternative for players who enjoy open-world crime games, stylish traversal, and character-focused combat.
What happened at Gamescom Opening Night Live
The new trailer introduced Ananta’s central premise and its urban playgrounds. Players take the role of an Infinite Trigger, a supernatural investigator tasked with examining anomalies appearing throughout the game’s cities. The presentation highlighted Nova City and Chongxiao’s Lingyun City, which provide two different settings rather than a single uniform map.
Nova City is presented as a modern metropolis with the kind of coastal, high-rise atmosphere associated with locations such as Vice City or Los Santos. Lingyun City takes a different direction, using a distinctly Eastern visual identity. The contrast should give exploration a stronger sense of variety as players move between the game’s regions.
Ananta’s release date is set for January 15, 2027. The game will be free to play on PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile devices.
Why Ananta stands out among anime open-world games
Ananta first attracted attention when it was announced as Project Mugen at Gamescom 2023. Its appeal came from combining an anime presentation with a large urban environment, rapid movement inspired by superhero-style traversal, and action that recalls the exaggerated energy of GTA-like games. The latest footage reinforces that identity without presenting Ananta as a direct replacement for Rockstar’s series.
The two cities also support different daily activities. The trailer showed players using bikes, motorcycles, cars, and skateboards to travel through the world. Outside combat and investigation, Ananta includes unusual diversions such as directing a children’s choir and playing a shoot-’em-up mini-game at an amusement park. Those activities suggest that exploration will involve more than simply moving between missions.
Combat follows a familiar structure for free-to-play character-collection games. Players build a party of four Espers and can switch between them during battles. Each character has individual stats and abilities, creating room for different team compositions when facing major battles and bosses. Gacha systems will be part of the process for obtaining playable characters.
What to watch before launch
The January launch gives interested players a firm window to plan around, but the remaining question is how the two cities will work together in the full game. The trailer establishes a clear visual split between Nova City and Lingyun City; Ananta will need meaningful activities and progression across both locations to make that contrast matter beyond presentation.
The free-to-play model may broaden the game’s reach across PS5, PC, and mobile, while the gacha system will be an important factor for players deciding how deeply to engage with character collection. Ananta’s mix of investigation, open-world travel, combat, and side activities will ultimately determine whether its anime GTA-like reputation develops into a distinctive identity.
Key takeaways for players
- Ananta launches free to play on January 15, 2027.
- The game is coming to PS5, PC, and mobile devices.
- Nova City and Chongxiao’s Lingyun City offer contrasting urban settings.
- Players can form and switch between four-character Esper teams.
- Vehicles, anomaly investigations, and unusual mini-games expand the open-world experience.
Ananta’s two revealed cities
| City | Identity shown in the trailer | Exploration angle |
|---|---|---|
| Nova City | Modern metropolitan setting | Vehicles and urban activities |
| Chongxiao’s Lingyun City | Eastern-inspired city environment | A contrasting setting for daily life and investigation |
Expert View
Ananta’s strongest selling point is not simply that it resembles GTA in an anime style; it is the combination of two distinct cities, flexible character combat, and oddball activities that could give the world its own personality. NetEase now has a clear opportunity to turn curiosity from the Project Mugen era into a durable player base, but the launch will be judged by how much substance sits behind the trailer’s stylish mobility and spectacle.
