Urban open-world action game Ananta has received a new trailer and a 2027 release date, revealed during Gamescom's Opening Night Live. Developed by Naked Rain and published by NetEase, the game centers on the premise "Go Viral. Save the world."
Players assume the role of Captain, a member of the ACD, a peacekeeping agency facing collapse. To aid in the agency's reconstruction and to locate a missing father, Captain must become a prominent internet influencer. Gameplay mechanics are built around gaining fame through story missions, bounties, side quests, and even simple interactions like taking selfies with citizens. Increased fame unlocks more missions, resources, and influencer perks.
The trailer also introduced Chongxiao, the game's second explorable city. This metropolis draws inspiration from real-world locations such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Tokyo. Chongxiao is a sandbox environment featuring various recreational spots like gyms, restaurants, mahjong parlors, themed cafes, clothing stores, and hot springs, alongside minigames. Players can navigate the city using a variety of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, skateboards, and subways on the streets, speedboats and yachts on water, and helicopters, hang gliders, and flying cars in the sky.
Chongxiao's population consists of over 100 NPCs, each with unique stories and side quests. Assisting these characters builds relationships, and strong bonds can lead to recruiting them into the ACD, which in turn unlocks new combat abilities and items. Ananta will allow players to switch between controlling different ACD agents, each offering a distinct perspective, storyline, and approach to exploration and combat. Combat is inspired by real-world martial arts, such as Shaolin kung fu, with players able to learn techniques from various masters and utilize environmental objects as weapons.
Ananta is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, for PlayStation 5 and PC, available through its own client and Steam.