Is Ananta multiplayer? Co-op, offline and cross-play explained

Ananta is no longer described as a purely single-player game. On October 7, 2026, its Steam page lists four categories: Single-player, MMO, Online Co-op and Cross-Platform Multiplayer^[1]. The developers had already said at the Tokyo Game Show that they were studying a four-player co-op mode^[2][3]. What is still missing is the detail: which modes, on which platforms, and from which date.

Is Ananta multiplayer?

Partly, on paper. The story and most of what has been shown (city activities, missions for the ACD) are a solo experience. But the official Steam page, published by NetEase Games, now adds online categories next to single-player^[1]. In August 2026, PC Gamer still wrote that there was no multiplayer at launch^[4], so this is a recent change that NetEase has not explained in a post or a trailer yet.

The MMO category should be read with care: in their interviews, the developers insisted that Ananta is not an MMO but a game built for co-op with friends^[3].

What did the developers say at the Tokyo Game Show?

At the Tokyo Game Show in September 2025, the team gave interviews to IGN Japan and Denfaminicogamer. According to the summaries of those interviews, they said Ananta has multiplayer but is not an MMO, that it focuses on co-op with friends, and that you can pick characters and explore together^[3]. Power Up Gaming reports that the studio is looking into a four-player co-op mode where players complete tasks or missions together^[2].

The wording matters: the team is studying four-player co-op, it has not announced it as a launch feature. No date, no format and no platform detail have been given.

Where does the "team of four" idea come from?

Part of the confusion goes back to 2023. When the game was revealed as Project Mugen, Gematsu described team combat with four characters^[5]. That was about one player controlling a team, not about four people playing together. More recent coverage describes switching between characters^[4]. Our combat guide explains what is known about character switching.

Can you play Ananta offline?

Probably not, but it is not confirmed. No offline mode has been announced. Ananta is a free-to-play game released on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android^[6][8], and Steam now files it under online categories^[1]. NetEase has not stated whether an internet connection is required to play the story alone. Until it does, plan on being online, especially on mobile.

Is there cross-play or cross-save?

Steam now lists Cross-Platform Multiplayer^[1], which suggests that players on different platforms will be able to meet. NetEase has not said which platforms will play together, nor whether progress will carry over between PC, PS5 and mobile (cross-save). Our page on platforms and cross-play tracks each platform and what has been confirmed.

Is there any social side to the game?

Inside the game, the story revolves around becoming an influencer, with its own fictional social network called Scope^[1][6]. Outside the game, the official community lives on X (@Ananta_EN), YouTube, Discord, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and the subreddit r/AnantaOfficial^[7]. For what players are saying there, read our summary of community debates.

What should you expect at launch?

• A story-driven open-world RPG, free-to-play^[1].
• Online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer listed on Steam, without details yet^[1].
• A four-player co-op mode studied by the developers, with no date^[2][3].
• No offline mode announced, and no confirmation on cross-save.

For other common questions, see our Ananta FAQ.

Co-op or solo, everyone starts on the same day: see the Ananta release date, with the launch time by time zone.