Is Ananta a Gacha Game? No — Here's How It Actually Works
Last updated: 29 June 2026
The single most common question about Ananta is whether it has a gacha system. The short answer: no. Ananta takes a fundamentally different approach to monetization compared to Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and most other action RPGs from Asian studios. Here is a complete breakdown.
No Character Gacha — All Characters Are Free
In Ananta, every playable character is unlocked through story progression. There are no banners, no pull currency, and no randomised chance mechanics tied to character acquisition.
This was confirmed by Naked Rain (the development studio, a subsidiary of NetEase) and has remained consistent across all official communications. During the Closed Beta Test in January 2026, players had access to four characters — Captain, Taffy, Richie and Seymour — all unlocked by simply progressing through the story.
Bottom line: If a character exists in Ananta, you can unlock them by playing the game — at no cost. This is the opposite of gacha games like Genshin Impact or Wuthering Waves.
What Ananta Actually Sells: Cosmetics Only
Ananta's monetization is limited to optional cosmetics. These items change how your character or environment looks — they do not affect gameplay statistics, damage output, or progression speed.
| Item | Free? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Playable characters | Free | Unlocked via story — all characters |
| Character skills & abilities | Free | No paid skill gates |
| Weapons & gear | Free | Earned through gameplay |
| Character outfits / skins | Paid | Optional cosmetic purchase |
| Vehicle skins | Paid | Optional cosmetic purchase |
| Housing decorations | Paid | Optional cosmetic purchase |
| Battle pass (if any) | TBC | Not yet confirmed |
How This Compares to Other Games
To understand why Ananta's model stands out, compare it to the dominant approach in the genre:
- Genshin Impact — Characters locked behind a randomised wish system. A 5-star character has a base rate of 0.6% per pull. Pity system exists but reaching it requires significant currency grinding or spending.
- Zenless Zone Zero — Similar gacha model to Genshin. Characters obtained through randomised pulls using polychrome or paid currency.
- Wuthering Waves — Gacha system for characters with resonance pulls, though the developer (Kuro Game) is considered more F2P-friendly than HoYoverse.
- Ananta — No character gacha at all. Story progression unlocks every character. Spending money gives you cosmetics, not power.
This model is closer to games like Fortnite or GTA Online than to traditional gacha titles — fitting for an urban open-world RPG set in Nova City.
Why No Gacha? The Business Logic
Naked Rain's decision to remove character gacha is unusual for a studio under NetEase, which operates multiple gacha titles. The reasoning appears to be market positioning: Ananta is targeting a Western audience that has grown critical of predatory gacha mechanics, and differentiating on this point is a strong conversion argument.
With 17 million pre-registrations as of mid-2026, the no-gacha message is clearly resonating. The cosmetics-only model still generates substantial revenue — Fortnite grossed over $6 billion in a single year on the same model.
Disclaimer
Monetization details are based on official communications from Naked Rain and CBT observations as of June 2026. Final monetization may differ at global launch. This page will be updated when additional details are confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ananta a gacha game?
No. Ananta does not use a gacha system for characters. All playable characters are unlocked through story progression. There is no randomised pull mechanic for characters.
Is Ananta free to play?
Yes. Ananta is free to play on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android. There are no pay-to-win mechanics and no character gacha.
How does Ananta make money if there's no gacha?
Ananta monetizes through cosmetics only: character outfits, vehicle skins, housing decorations and similar optional items. None of these affect gameplay performance.
Do you have to pay to unlock characters in Ananta?
No. Every playable character in Ananta is unlocked through story progression at no cost. You do not need to spend money or roll on a banner to access any character.
Is Ananta pay to win?
No. Monetization is limited to cosmetics. There are no stat-boosting items, no pay-gated characters and no gacha mechanics that give paying players a gameplay advantage.
What platforms is Ananta available on?
Ananta is coming to PC (dedicated launcher), PlayStation 5, iOS and Android. Cross-platform play and cross-save support are expected but have not been officially confirmed.