Free-to-play GTA 6 rival Ananta has a release date and its open world looks wild

Grand Theft Auto VI players will soon be able to explore the full-breadth of Leonida, Rockstar Games’ latest urban open-world - and while few games can rival what GTA 6 offers, a challenger is on the way in the free-to-play title Ananta.

Developed by Naked Rain and set to be published by NetEase, Ananta will launch on PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android on January 15, 2027, several months on from GTA 6's November 19 release day.

While it’s not an exact dupe of Rockstar’s behemoth, Ananta has often been dubbed ‘anime GTA’ thanks to its large city setting, vehicular gameplay, police wanted system, and interactive open-world filled with opportunities for urban chaos.

Its anime presentation, martial arts combat, and supernatural elements, however, give it more than enough uniqueness that set it apart from GTA VI, plus Ananta is available on PC and mobile.

Here’s everything you need to know about Ananta - with updates to come on pre-release beta testing, and the game’s launch and first major updates beyond that.

When is the Ananta release date and is it really free?

Ananta launches globally on January 15, 2027 as revealed at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live 2026.

The game was originally known as ‘Project Mugen’ following an initial reveal in 2023 before it was later renamed to Ananta in 2024. Here’s a timeline:

• August 2023: Revealed as Project Mugen
• December 2024: Renamed Ananta
• September 2025: Extended gameplay presentation
• August 2026: January release date announced
• January 2027: Global launch

Ananta is free-to-play but it will feature micro-transactions, as confirmed on Steam, with in-game purchases and chance-based purchases both included.

What time does Ananta launch?

Ananta’s global launch times are yet to be revealed. We will provide an update when more information is provided by Naked Rain or NetEase.

Will Ananta have a beta or early access?

Ananta has not yet confirmed a global open beta test.

A closed beta test was held in early 2026 following which NetEase CEO Ding Lei said that player feedback had met expectations and the game remained on schedule. Media had the opportunity to go hands-on with Ananta at Gamescom 2026.

Gamers can pre-register for Ananta via the game’s official website but this does not include early access to the game and instead, offers in-game rewards when community sign-up milestones are reached.

Does Ananta have ‘gacha’ or micro-transactions?

Ananta does not feature ‘gacha’ mechanics with all playable characters unlocked for free via progressing through the story. As such, developers claim it is not a pay-to-win game.

The game will, however, feature some in-game purchases. In an exclusive preview published by Famitsu, it was confirmed that only Ananta's cosmetics will be monetised, with players able to purchase unique outfits, vehicles, and home items. Exact pricing for in-game purchases is not yet available.

Why is Ananta being called a GTA 6 rival?

While neither Naked Rain nor NetEase has marketed Ananta as a rival to GTA 6, it rapidly was issued the nickname of ‘anime GTA’ by gamers following the unveiling of its trailers and wider media coverage. In addition to both being set in sprawling metropolises, both titles’ gameplay revolves around the law and the opportunity for wrongdoing.

What Ananta has in common with GTA 6

One of Ananta’s key locations is the sun-soaked Nova City, roughly based on New York - so you could say it’s more Liberty City than Vice City. Regardless, both Nova City and GTA VI’s Vice City offer players a large urban playground, with both games’ maps being densely packed with quests and activities.

In both titles, you can roam the map via vehicle and partake in vehicular-based missions and street racing - and both Ananta and GTA VI are heavily concerned with the law, although in the former, you’ll enforce it and in the latter, you can both enforce or break it. Those who select a life of crime will be pursued by the law should they take things too far.

Players of Ananta will be able to unlock multiple protagonists - just as you can play as Jason and Lucia - plus enter shops and entertainment venues across the map as you simply explore city life. That echoes GTA VI’s offering of night clubs, gyms, and various shops.

Both Ananta and GTA 6 also heavily concern themselves with in-game social media and influencer culture. In a preview by GameSpot, it was revealed that Ananta players will need to improve their character’s online following in order to progress with the story, taking on missions that’ll build you both a reputation and fanbase.

How is Ananta different from GTA 6?

There are several obvious differences, including the fact that Ananta is free-to-play, features an anime art style, and will launch on PC and mobile. Additionally, while GTA VI is largely classed as an action-adventure title, Ananta is an RPG.

Ananta features a second city setting, Chongxiao, which is where the player character was raised before moving to Nova City. Chongxiao is inspired by both modern day and traditional Chinese architecture, blending the two. Ananta also honours China’s heritage by including martial arts based combat.

While the Grand Theft Auto franchise is no stranger to a supernatural Easter egg, Ananta more directly features supernatural elements with players facing off against entities known as ‘Chaos’. Naked Rain’s game isn’t set to be quite as mature-rated as GTA VI with a lighter feel. That’s evidenced by the game’s traversal mechanics as you can swing and fly through the game in addition to using more grounded and traditional means like cars.

With all of this in mind, Ananta perhaps won’t steal gamers’ attention away from GTA VI but instead will make for an equally must-play adjacent experience.

Is Ananta copying GTA, Spider-Man and other games?

Ananta has been accused by the gaming community of referencing its inspirations a little too bluntly. Within its gameplay trailers, similarities have been spotted between Naked Rain’s title and Marvel’s Spider-Man, Watch Dogs, Batman: Arkham, and Uncharted as well as, of course, GTA.

The player can swing from a long tentacled arm with animations mirroring those found in the Marvel’s Spider-Man games. As for Watch Dogs, gamers found similarities in Ananta’s NPC reactions and player animations. The Batman: Arkham comparison came from Ananta’s punch mechanic while a sequence featuring a character being dragged behind a truck was compared to a level in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.

Sharing similarities doesn’t always equal ‘copying’ or, in the most serious cases, copyright infringement. That being said, it looks as if Ananta could feel like a ‘greatest hits’ of AAA gaming.

What platforms will Ananta be released on?

Ananta is coming to PlayStation 5, PC, iOS and Android; on PC, it’ll be available via Steam and the game’s own launcher.

Ananta is not currently set to come to Xbox or Nintendo.

What are the Ananta PC and mobile requirements?

Ananta's minimum PC requirements:

• Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Intel Core i5-9400F / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
• 16GB Memory
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6G
• 40GB Storage
• DirectX Version 11

Ananta's recommended PC requirements:

• Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• 32GB Memory
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
• 100GB Storage
• DiretxtX Version 11

Mobile requirements are yet to be outlined but the App Store lists Ananta as requiring iOS 12.0 or later.

Ananta’s gameplay and story

Ananta is loosely based around the idea of trying to build your reputation as an influencer, although how you approach that task is up to you. The game is based across two cities, the New York-inspired Nova City and the traditional Chinese Chongxiao, which acts as the player character’s hometown. Players can join law enforcement, become a hacker, or lead a gang. The choice is yours.

Gameplay includes:

• Driving cars and motorcycles
• Using taxis, buses and subways
• Piloting or travelling in helicopters and yachts
• Swinging and gliding between buildings
• Street racing
• Visiting clubs, cinemas, arcades, cafés, and shops
• Completing character and NPC quests
• Fighting using martial arts and environmental objects
• Playing as officers, hackers, delivery riders, influencers, and more
• Building relationships and recruiting allies
• Eliminating supernatural threats called ‘Chaos’

Developers previously confirmed that the title will feature over 100-hours of content at launch.

Is Ananta single-player or multiplayer?

Ananta is being marketed as a single-player experience.

Naked Rain has not outlined any concrete plans for co-op despite being asked about such a feature. It has, however, shared plans to support the game for “at least seven years” as per a preview by Insider Gaming.

The PlayStation Store notes that online play is required, but this likely allows for in-game purchases and transactions.