What Is ANANTA? NetEase’s Urban Open-World RPG, Gameplay, Story, and Platforms Explained

ANANTA is an upcoming free-to-play urban open-world RPG from NetEase Games and Naked Rain Studio. If you have seen gameplay clips of anime-style characters driving through a modern city, swinging between buildings, fighting with improvised weapons, and dealing with strange supernatural events, that is ANANTA.

The game was previously known as Project Mugen, so many players still search for it under both names. Today, the official title is ANANTA, and it is scheduled to launch globally on January 15, 2027 for PC, Steam, PS5, iOS, and Android, according to the latest report from Gematsu.

What Is ANANTA and Who Is Making It?

ANANTA is best described as a modern city RPG with open-world exploration, action combat, multiple playable characters, and a heavy focus on urban life. Instead of a traditional fantasy kingdom or post-apocalyptic wasteland, ANANTA puts players inside a dense anime-style metropolis filled with traffic, shops, nightlife, missions, social systems, and unusual incidents.

The game is published by NetEase Games and developed by Naked Rain Studio. NetEase’s official investor release describes ANANTA as a free-to-play RPG set in a large open world, with gameplay built around city exploration, character variety, interactive environments, and unexpected urban events. You can read the official overview on the NetEase ANANTA gameplay announcement.

For new players, the easiest way to understand ANANTA is this: it is an open-world RPG built around city freedom rather than wilderness exploration. The main appeal is not only fighting enemies, but also moving through the city, meeting characters, taking on different roles, and turning everyday urban spaces into part of the gameplay.

What Is ANANTA’s Story and Setting?

ANANTA takes place in a modern urban world where ordinary city life exists alongside strange events and hidden threats. Players are connected to the A.C.D., a task-force-style organization that investigates abnormal incidents affecting the city.

The earlier gameplay material focused on Nova City, while newer official updates introduced Chongxiao as another major city. This gives ANANTA a wider setting than a single downtown map. The game’s world appears to mix familiar city life with exaggerated, surreal, and supernatural elements.

Players can expect the story to involve:

• A city affected by mysterious Chaos-related incidents

• A central protagonist connected to an investigative organization

• Playable characters with different identities and personal stories

• Urban factions, city jobs, and social relationships

• A tone that mixes action, comedy, mystery, and everyday life

The official ANANTA Steam page also emphasizes two cities, multiple roles, martial arts battles, and a social influence theme. That means the story is not only about saving the world in a standard RPG sense. It is also about becoming visible in the city, building reputation, and using different character lives to interact with the world.

How Does ANANTA Gameplay Work?

ANANTA’s gameplay combines open-world exploration, action combat, character switching, vehicles, and city activities. It looks closer to a city action RPG than a traditional menu-based RPG.

Players will be able to move around on foot, use vehicles, explore different districts, enter selected interiors, and take part in missions or spontaneous city events. Combat appears to rely on fast martial arts action, environmental interaction, dodging, blocking, and using everyday objects as weapons.

One of the most distinctive parts of ANANTA is its “live in the city” approach. The game is not only showing combat arenas and quest markers. It is also showing shops, cafés, gyms, nightlife, street racing, odd encounters, and social spaces that make the city feel like a playable lifestyle setting.

That is why many players compare ANANTA to games like GTA, Yakuza, Spider-Man, or Genshin Impact. Those comparisons are understandable, but ANANTA is trying to combine parts of several genres: anime RPG storytelling, city sandbox movement, action combat, and social simulation.

Is ANANTA Free to Play and What Platforms Is It On?

ANANTA is planned as a free-to-play game. However, players should separate “free to play” from “no paid content.” Steam lists ANANTA with in-game purchases and chance-based in-game purchases, so optional monetization is expected.

The exact launch economy, premium currency, battle pass structure, cosmetic shop, and regional pricing have not been fully detailed yet. Players should wait for official launch information before assuming how spending will work.

Players can follow the official ANANTA website for pre-registration and launch updates. PC players can also wishlist the game on Steam to receive store notifications.

ANANTA vs Project Mugen: Are They the Same Game?

Yes. ANANTA and Project Mugen are the same game. Project Mugen was the earlier public name used when the game was first revealed. The project was later reintroduced as ANANTA, which is now the official title used across store pages, trailers, and publisher updates.

This matters because older videos, articles, and social posts may still use the Project Mugen name. If you search “Project Mugen release date,” “Project Mugen gameplay,” or “Project Mugen PS5,” you are usually looking for ANANTA information.

The rebrand did not turn the game into a different project. It mainly changed the public-facing title and helped position the game for a wider global audience.

ANANTA FAQ for New Players

Is ANANTA like Genshin Impact?
ANANTA shares some surface similarities with anime-style open-world RPGs, but its setting and structure are very different. It focuses on modern city life, vehicles, social influence, and urban action rather than fantasy-region exploration.

Is ANANTA like GTA?
It has city driving, urban freedom, and chaotic open-world moments, so the comparison makes sense. However, ANANTA is still an anime-style RPG with character stories, supernatural events, and action combat.

Can you drive cars in ANANTA?
Yes. Official gameplay material has shown multiple ways to move through the city, including cars and other vehicles.

Is ANANTA multiplayer?
Full multiplayer details are not final. Steam currently lists online interactivity and in-game chat, but players should wait for official confirmation on co-op, cross-play, or shared-world features.

Does ANANTA have gacha?
The clearest confirmed point is that Steam lists chance-based in-game purchases. However, the final monetization structure should be checked at launch. A 2025 interview covered by 4Gamer discussed the absence of traditional character gacha, but players should still wait for the official global monetization breakdown.

When does ANANTA release?
ANANTA is scheduled for a global release on January 15, 2027.

Where can I play ANANTA?
ANANTA is planned for PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, iOS, and Android.

Final Thoughts

ANANTA is one of NetEase’s most ambitious upcoming games because it is not simply another fantasy open-world RPG. Its identity is built around a living modern city, multiple playable lives, fast action combat, social influence, and strange events hidden inside everyday urban spaces.

For players wondering “What is ANANTA?”, the short answer is: a free-to-play urban open-world RPG where city life, character stories, action combat, and online reputation all become part of the adventure. As launch approaches, the biggest details to watch are system requirements, monetization, cross-platform features, and how much freedom the final open world truly delivers.