NetEase’s long-awaited urban sandbox Ananta will reveal new details on August 25 at Gamescom

Jeff Keigley officially announced that Ananta, the long-awaited urban sandbox from NetEase, will join the lineup of games showcased at Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2026. The event will take place on August 25. According to Keigley, the presentation will offer a “fresh look” at the project, although he did not reveal any specific details.

As a reminder, Ananta was initially announced as Project Mugen back in 2023. Development is underway for PC, PS5, Android, and iOS. The game received its official title in November 2024, and a teaser trailer was released at the same time.

In Ananta, players assume the role of an ACD agent in the fictional city of Nova, a neon-themed metropolis. In September 2025, NetEase revealed the first gameplay footage, showcasing an open world with free-roaming features that have already drawn comparisons to Grand Theft Auto 6.

The developers are expected to finally announce the release date at Gamescom 2026. A new trailer is also possible, revealing plot details and character development: Captain ACD, Squad member Taffy (nicknamed Yeet), Professional Richie, and Hacker Seymour. It’s not yet known whether the game will focus on the player’s gradual development of their team or whether they will offer control of one of these characters.

Pre-registration for Ananta is now open, and NetEase’s official website reports that the game has attracted over 17 million players worldwide.

Ananta will be free-to-play across all platforms, but monetization details have not yet been revealed. Judging by the art style and visuals, the game may inherit elements of the gacha systems characteristic of popular free-to-play titles like Wuthering Waves or Genshin Impact. It also remains to be seen whether Ananta will be a fully single-player adventure or will feature multiplayer features.