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Ananta

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Template:Infobox video game

Ananta (formerly known as Project Mugen) is an upcoming free-to-play urban open world action role-playing game developed by Naked Rain and NetEase Montreal, and published by NetEase.[1][2] The game is set in the fictional metropolis of Nova City, where players control members of the Anti-Chaos Directorate as they investigate supernatural anomalies and combat a mysterious force known as Chaos.[3]

Overview

Ananta represents NetEase's ambitious entry into the urban open-world genre, combining elements from various popular gaming franchises into what has been described as "anime GTA meets Marvel's Spider-Man".[4] The game features a Manhattan-sized open world with unprecedented interactivity, where players can engage in activities ranging from playing basketball to watching movies in theaters, all while switching between different playable characters who each bring unique abilities and perspectives to gameplay.[3]

The game's development philosophy centers on creating a living city where "if you see a door, you should probably be able to open it."[3] This approach extends to extensive NPC interactions, including the ability to read AI-generated phone messages, move furniture while people are using it, and cause widespread urban chaos without lethal consequences.[3]

Development

Project History

Ananta was initially announced as "Project Mugen" at Gamescom 2023 on August 24, 2023.[1] The game underwent a significant rebranding on November 29, 2024, when it was officially renamed to "Ananta" and approved for release in China.[1] The name change reflected the game's evolution from a concept project to a fully-realized production ready for global release.

The development is handled by Naked Rain, a Hangzhou-based studio in China, in collaboration with NetEase Montreal.[1] The combined development team comprises over 700 people across both studios, representing one of the largest investments NetEase has made in a single game project.[3]

Tokyo Game Show 2025

Ananta made a significant impact at Tokyo Game Show 2025, where it was described as "the unquestioned dark horse winner" of the event.[5] NetEase showcased the game at booth C06 in Hall 6 of Makuhari Messe from September 25-28, 2025, featuring extended gameplay demos and a new 7-minute trailer.[2]

The TGS demonstration allowed players to experience the game's core mechanics firsthand, including the Spider-Man-style traversal system, GTA-inspired urban chaos, and Yakuza-like life simulation elements.[4] While the game received praise for its ambition and technical achievement, some attendees expressed concerns about its heavy borrowing from established franchises, with comparisons drawn to the Palworld/Pokemon controversy.[5]

Setting

Nova City

The game takes place in Nova City, a fictional metropolis roughly the size of Manhattan, making it one of the largest urban environments attempted in gaming.[3] The city features diverse districts including business centers, residential areas, industrial zones, beaches, amusement parks, and underground networks.[3]

Nova City operates on a 24/7 NPC Cycle, where non-player characters follow realistic daily routines and react dynamically to player actions.[3] The city's infrastructure includes a functional Subway System, various entertainment venues like Movie Theaters and Basketball courts, and establishments such as Dream Garden and fitness centers.[3]

The developers plan to implement an Urban Density System that will gradually increase the city's complexity over time, adding new shops, venues, and activities rather than simply expanding the map boundaries.[3]

Organizations

Nova City's power structure consists of several key organizations:

  • Anti-Chaos Directorate (ACD) - The player's primary organization, tasked with maintaining order and investigating supernatural incidents[3]
  • Nova City Crime Agency (NCCA) - The city's main law enforcement body[3]
  • Cat Express - An underground logistics network handling unofficial city infrastructure[3]
  • Eonbug - A mysterious technology organization operating in the shadows[3]
  • Dream Garden - A neutral social establishment managed by the character Aileen[3]
  • DPA - A bureaucratic organization connected to the character Ringo[3]

Gameplay

Core Mechanics

Ananta features an action-oriented combat system inspired by Hong Kong cinema and martial arts films, emphasizing timing and environmental interaction over complex button combinations.[3] Players can freely switch between different crew members during exploration and combat, each offering unique abilities and playstyles.[3]

The traversal system combines Spider-Man-style web-swinging using grappling hooks with parkour mechanics for navigating Nova City's vertical architecture.[3] Players can also utilize vehicles for transportation, with realistic traffic physics and consequences for violations.[3]

Character System

Unlike traditional gacha games, Ananta employs a Character Acquisition System where all playable characters are unlocked through story progression or open-world exploration rather than randomized pulls.[6] This system ensures players understand each character's background and role through actual gameplay rather than luck-based acquisition.

The initial roster includes:

Additional characters like Alan, Bansy, Lykaia, Dila, Mechanika, Aileen, and Ringo are expected to join through various story missions and encounters.[3]

Chaos Liquid Abilities

Players can utilize Chaos Liquid, a symbiote-like power system that provides devastating area-of-effect abilities during combat.[3] These powers are tied to the game's central narrative about the mysterious Chaos force threatening Nova City.

Social Systems

The game features a Dating System inspired by the Persona series, allowing players to build relationships with various characters.[3] Each character maintains their own schedule and behavior patterns within the city, requiring players to understand their routines to develop relationships naturally.[3]

A Social Media Influence System tracks player popularity and unlocks various perks, particularly relevant to the character Taffy's goal of gaining one million fans.[3]

Activities and Mini-Games

Ananta includes numerous side activities designed to make Nova City feel like a living environment:

Activity Description
Basketball 2v2 multiplayer sports games on street courts
Mahjong Traditional tile game, often played with Aileen
Movie Theaters Watch actual films in cinemas throughout the city
Fitness Centers Workout mini-games potentially tied to character development
Video Calls Communication between crew members
Pet Interactions Pet cats and interact with animals in parks
Phone Snooping Read NPC's AI-generated text conversations

The developers plan to continuously expand available activities as part of their urban density strategy.[3]

Business Model

Free-to-Play Structure

Ananta adopts a Free-to-play model with no character gacha system, distinguishing it from most anime-styled mobile games.[7] All story content and playable characters are accessible without payment, with monetization focused entirely on cosmetic items.[8]

Cosmetic Monetization

The Cosmetic Monetization system includes:

  • Character clothing and costumes with dyeing options
  • Vehicle modifications and skins
  • Potential real estate purchases within Nova City
  • Both free and premium cosmetic options to ensure accessibility[3]

The developers stated their philosophy: "satisfy users through compelling storylines and natural character progression, and revenue will follow organically through a larger, more engaged player base."[3]

Multiplayer

The multiplayer system allows friends to create shared world instances where each player controls a different crew member, enabling cooperative exploration and activities.[3] This character-specific approach creates unique storytelling opportunities as players experience Nova City from different perspectives simultaneously.

Confirmed multiplayer features include:

  • 2v2 basketball games
  • Cooperative missions
  • Shared exploration with different character abilities
  • Cross-platform play between PC, PlayStation, and mobile[8]

Technical Details

Engine and Platforms

Ananta is developed using the Unity engine and will be available on:

  • Windows PC (initially through custom launcher, Steam release potential)
  • PlayStation 5
  • PlayStation 4
  • Android
  • iOS[1][8]

Cross-save functionality is planned from launch, allowing players to maintain progress across all platforms.[8]

System Requirements

While specific system requirements have not been officially announced, the game's Manhattan-sized open world and detailed NPC systems suggest significant hardware demands, particularly for the PC and PlayStation 5 versions.

Release Information

Pre-Registration

Pre-registration opened on the official Ananta website, with over 11 million players registered as of September 2025.[8] Pre-registration rewards and technical test access are offered to early supporters.

Release Timeline

  • August 24, 2023 - Initial announcement as "Project Mugen" at Gamescom[1]
  • November 29, 2024 - Rebranded to "Ananta" and approved for China release[1]
  • September 2025 - Tokyo Game Show demonstration and expanded reveal[2]
  • Late 2025 - Technical test phase begins[8]
  • 2026 - Expected global release (specific date TBA)[8]

Cultural Influences

Ananta draws inspiration from multiple sources:

Reception

Pre-Release Response

At Tokyo Game Show 2025, Ananta was praised as a technical achievement and "surprise hit" of the event.[5] However, the game also faced criticism for its heavy borrowing from established franchises, with some observers questioning its originality and potential legal implications.[5]

The decision to eliminate character gacha mechanics received positive attention from players tired of predatory monetization in anime-styled games.[6] The game's ambitious scope and 700+ person development team have generated significant interest in whether NetEase can deliver on its promises.[3]

Community

An active community has formed around Ananta, with the official subreddit r/AnantaOfficial serving as a hub for discussion and speculation. Fan art and character analyses have proliferated across social media platforms, particularly for popular characters like Taffy and Captain.[3]

Significance

Ananta represents a significant experiment in the anime gaming market, attempting to prove that AAA development budgets can support non-exploitative monetization models.[3] The game's elimination of character gacha while maintaining massive production values could influence how other developers approach anime-styled games if successful.

The integration of dating mechanics, urban simulation, and supernatural action creates a unique hybrid that bridges the gap between fantasy anime games and realistic urban simulators.[3] Whether NetEase can successfully balance these disparate elements while maintaining sustainable economics remains the key question facing this ambitious project.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Wikipedia. "Ananta (video game)". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananta_(video_game). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 NetEase Games. "ANANTA, the Highly-Anticipated Urban Open World RPG, Releases New Trailer and Gameplay Details for Tokyo Game Show". September 22, 2025. https://www.neteasegames.com/news/20250922/37000_1260495.html. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 Reddit. "Deep Dive: A Comprehensive Breakdown of ANANTA's Gameplay, Characters, and Development". r/AnantaOfficial. https://www.reddit.com/r/AnantaOfficial/comments/1ntqiz4/deep_dive_a_comprehensive_breakdown_of_anantas/. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 GamesRadar+. "TGS players try Ananta, the game that looks like an anime GTA, Spider-Man, and Yakuza hybrid". September 2025. https://www.gamesradar.com/games/open-world/tgs-players-try-ananta-the-game-that-looks-like-an-anime-gta-spider-man-and-yakuza-hybrid/. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Anime News Network. "Hands-On with Ananta, The Surprise Hit of TGS 2025". Tokyo Game Show 2025. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2025/tokyo-game-show/hands-on-with-ananta-the-surprise-hit-of-tgs/.229412. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 AUTOMATON WEST. "Locking characters behind gacha would have clashed with ANANTA's intended playstyle and high degree of freedom, producer explains". https://automaton-media.com/en/news/locking-characters-behind-gacha-would-have-clashed-with-anantas-intended-playstyle-and-high-degree-of-freedom-producer-explains/. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. ↑ PC Games N. "Ananta release date estimate, gameplay, and latest news". https://www.pcgamesn.com/project-mugen/release-date. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 CalCoast Times. "Ananta Game Release Date 2025: Everything You Need to Know". September 24, 2025. https://calcoasttimes.com/2025/09/24/ananta-game-release-date-2025-everything-you-need-to-know/. Retrieved 2025-10-02.

External Links

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