Release Date Set for 'Anime GTA' Ananta
NetEase's upcoming open-world RPG Ananta has finally secured an official release date: January 15, 2027. The announcement arrived at Gamescom Opening Night Live alongside a fresh trailer that offers the most detailed look yet at the game's sprawling systems and world.
A game largely described as an "anime Grand Theft Auto," Ananta has been generating buzz since its initial reveal, and the new date positions its launch after the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, which is also scheduled for 2026, avoiding direct competition.
Developed by Naked Rain, Free-to-Play and Multi-Plat
Ananta is being developed by Naked Rain, a NetEase studio, and will be a free-to-play title available on PC, console, and mobile. The new trailer opens with a brief narrative setup: players step into the shoes of a supernatural investigator, referred to as an "Infinite Trigger," who must battle a threat described as "evil guys." This narrative framing is intentionally light, as the trailer quickly shifts focus to vast, animated, and interactive urban environments.
The trailer showcases two sprawling open-world cities, a variety of vehicles from scooters to futuristic flying machines, and numerous mini-games that promise depth outside the main story. The protagonist is seen hanging from a plane mid-flight in a nod to Tom Cruise's signature move, and the visual style continues to draw heavily from the Spider-Man universe, as evidenced by swinging mechanics and general movement that echoes wall-crawling, as highlighted by both Kotaku and Polygon.
A Sizzle Reel of Gameplay Ideas
Kotaku describes the latest trailer as "a sizzle reel of tons of different gameplay ideas and funny moments," pairing a 1992 hit from the Cranberries ("Dreams") with a montage of activities that include car stealing, freeway racing, and parkour-inspired traversal. The game appears to be pulling inspiration from almost every major AAA title of recent years, according to Polygon.
Both outlets are enthusiastic but measured in their coverage. Kotaku notes that the game "looks way too good to be true, and maybe it is," while also pointing out that it lacks "gacha elements" typical of many free-to-play anime RPGs, a potential plus for some players. Polygon emphasizes that "NetEase is pumping as much money as possible" into Ananta, creating what they call a "true anything-goes game."
The Road to 2027
With a release date set for around two years away, Ananta still has plenty of time for development, and the showcase at Gamescom paints a promising picture. Whether the ambitious "everything" approach will translate to a polished, fun experience remains to be seen, but if the game delivers even a fraction of what its trailers suggest, it could fast become a major cornerstone for NetEase and the open-world genre as a whole.