NetEase Games has confirmed a January 15, 2027 launch date for Ananta, the free-to-play open-world action RPGRPG. Role-Playing Game — a game built around character progression, story, and player choices. formerly known as Project Mugen. The announcement came during Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, 2026, alongside the opening of pre-registration across Google Play, the App Store, Steam, and the PS Store. The game is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS.

Development & Studio Background

Ananta is developed by Naked Rain, a Hangzhou-based studio under NetEase Thunderfire Technology Co., Ltd., with additional team members from NetEase’s Montreal branch. The project was first revealed at Gamescom on August 24, 2023, under the title Project Mugen. In November 2024, it was renamed Ananta, meaning “without end” in Sanskrit. The game is being developed in Chinese, English, and Japanese, with plans for additional localization. It has been approved for release in China.

Monetization & Character Acquisition

In 2025, Naked Rain confirmed that Ananta will not use a gacha system for playable characters. All characters will be obtainable through gameplay progression. Monetizable elements are limited to “customizable aspects” such as outfits, vehicles, and homes, though the specific monetization structure for those features has not been finalized. The developers stated their current focus is on game design and content creation rather than monetization planning.

Gameplay & Traversal

Players take the role of an “Infinite Trigger,” a supernatural investigator exploring a mystic urban open world populated with pedestrians and enemies. All main characters and some NPCs are “Espers” — individuals with supernatural abilities who fight a force called “Chaos.”

Traversal is fast-paced and requires no stamina. Players can swim, run, ride bikes and cars, climb walls, perform parkour, and grapple between skyscrapers. Some characters have unique traversal styles; for example, Taffy’s mallet can transform into a rideable bike.

Combat involves navigating and fighting as a single character in the open world, with the ability to switch between a team of four during major battles and boss fights. Each character has unique stats and abilities that may synergize with teammates. Teams can equip additional buffs or major abilities such as crowd control or telekinesis.

Setting

The first city, Nova Inception Urbs, follows an East Asian urban design. The second city, Lingyun City, draws inspiration from Shanghai and Hangzhou. Additional cities with European and American inspirations are planned for post-launch availability. Players can interact with objects throughout the city, pick up cats, and play mini-games.