ANANTA Might Release Sooner Given GTA 6 Delay

You've probably heard that GTA 6 will not be released until May 26, 2026. Fans who saw the trailer in December 2023 were hoping for a 2025 release. The delay may be good for other developers, though. One game that could use some help is ANANTA, an open-world game from NetEase based on anime.

For months, rumors have been going around that ANANTA and its sister project, NTE, are connected to Rockstar's upcoming megahit. They aren't directly competing with it but rather seeing it as a chance to cash in on the excitement surrounding GTA 6. 

Now that GTA 6 has been pushed back, a big question emerges: Will ANANTA release earlier to make up for it, or will it wait to polish and get ready for the market after GTA 6?

First, let's get one thing straight: ANANTA has never said that it is the "anime version of GTA 6." That label comes from nothing but fan speculation. ANANTA is not an exact copy of Grand Theft Auto, even though it has some features in common, like open world gameplay and a star system that works like GTA's wanted level system. In this way, expectations should be measured.

Still, this name has caused a stir, and in the world of video games, what people think can be just as important as what is true. Since GTA 6 isn't coming out in 2025, there is a huge hole in the entertainment market. Fans who want big, open-world games will have to wait an extra year. That's where ANANTA could come in.

ANANTA, which was supposed to be free-to-play, can take advantage of the current disappointment to offer a fun, different-in-style, and cheaper alternative. It might be a great idea to release in late 2025, preferably around November or December, when people were first getting ready for GTA 6. 

There are already a lot of big game releases around the holidays, and if NetEase times their release correctly, they could have a six-month run before Rockstar's huge game takes the spotlight. Timing might not be up to you. Before putting out games in China, developers have to get licenses from the government. ANANTA is said to have gotten its license in December 2024.

 That license runs out in December 2025, so NetEase has only one year to release the game or go through the slow process of reapplying. Because of this, the company may have been unsure about releasing in 2025. However, the GTA delay could now be seen as both an opportunity and a regulatory deadline.

What would be the best case? NetEase might start a public beta around the middle of 2025. This would let interested players try the game and help it become more popular naturally. They would also get useful feedback and have time to make the game better before it comes out later that year. 

If you wait until November or December, the game might come out with better mechanics, more players, and a plan for content that goes all the way through early 2026. NetEase would also benefit from the early buzz and player interest before GTA 6 takes over next year. NetEase and ANANTA aren't going into a risk-free market, even though there are opportunities.

That being said, genre expectations can go wrong. Many gamers really don't like gacha systems. ANANTA's developers haven't confirmed that the game will have them, but the fact that it has multiple playable characters and likely unlock systems makes it look like it might. If ANANTA has gacha elements and isn't free-to-play, first-time players who are interested in the "anime GTA" hype could quickly become angry.

Second, NetEase's reputation is still a problem for many gamers in the West. People have long said that the company steals game mechanics from other companies and makes a lot of money from them. Still, NetEase has had some recent successes, such as Marvel Rivals and Naraka: Bladepoint, which both got good reviews. Still, it's up to ANANTA to persuade people who aren't sure that this isn't just another derivative cash grab.

Rockstar has a backlog of well-known games like GTA V, San Andreas, and Vice City, but ANANTA is a brand-new IP that doesn't have any nostalgic games to fall back on. Even though GTA 6 has been pushed back, some fans may still choose to play older games instead of risking their money on a new game from a publisher with a bad reputation.

No matter how well ANANTA does, its lack of a legacy could limit its reach.

NetEase really does have a chance to seize a rare window in 2025. Fans have been waiting for a big open-world game since GTA 6 was pushed back so that ANANTA could be more than just an interesting idea—it could be a hit. However, timing, marketing, and a plan for making money will be very important.

It might be best to start with a beta version and then have a full launch around the holidays in 2025. This game meets the licensing requirements, takes advantage of people's disappointment, and gives gamers something new to play while they wait for GTA 6.

But the studio still needs to be careful. If the game tries too hard to make money or doesn't have enough interesting content, ANANTA might not only miss its chance, but it could also hurt the reputation of other NetEase games in the same genre.