Ananta Beta Tests

Has Ananta had a beta?

Yes — two, and they were very different in scope.

The first was an offline technical test on January 3, 2025. It was a closed-door, on-site test rather than a distributed beta, so almost nothing from it reached the public beyond confirmation that it happened.

The second was Closed Beta Test 1 (CBT1), running January 16–20, 2026. This one mattered: it was a real playable build, it was remote, and it is the source of most concrete detail players have about ANANTA today. It was PC only. Players were recruited through pre-registration on the official site combined with a separate NetEase selection process, which is why plenty of people who pre-registered never received a key.

CBT1 covered five main-chapter slots plus character storylines. Confirmed playable characters during the test were the Captain, Taffy and Richie. Much of the PC requirements information circulating online traces back to this build, which is why it should be read as a snapshot rather than a launch spec — see system requirements.

How do I get into the next Ananta beta?

There is no open sign-up for a next test right now. Based on how CBT1 worked, the realistic path is:

1. Pre-register on the official site on the platform you intend to play. That is the pool NetEase drew from last time. Full steps in the pre-registration guide.
2. Watch first-party channels. Test announcements have gone out through the official site, the official Discord, YouTube and X/Twitter rather than through third-party wikis.
3. Be on PC if you can. CBT1 was PC-only. Whether that holds for CBT2 is to be confirmed.

Anyone offering a guaranteed key, a "beta code" or a paid slot is not running an official flow. Nothing about ANANTA's tests has ever been sold.

Why has there not been a bigger public beta?

This is a deliberate choice, and the developers have talked about it. The stated reasoning is that over-exposing the beta would burn through the surprises the game is built on — character reveals and story beats. That is the same reason community requests for long, unscripted gameplay footage have gone unanswered for long stretches.

The trade-off is real: the game arrives on January 15, 2027 with far less public hands-on time than most open-world launches get. It also means the community's most common complaint — "we have not seen 20 minutes of normal play" — is unlikely to be fully resolved before launch unless the studio changes approach.

When is CBT2?

Unknown. NetEase has said more tests are coming without committing to a calendar, platform list or region list. There is no sign-up window to join and no date to circle. If you see a specific CBT2 date on an aggregator site, it is speculation.

What we can say is structural: the January 15, 2027 launch date is locked to a store page, and the studio has acknowledged further testing before then. The window for another test is therefore between now and roughly the end of 2026.

Will beta progress carry over?

Not announced. NetEase has not said whether CBT1 accounts, characters or progress transfer to launch, and the standard practice for closed betas is a wipe. Assume a wipe until an official statement says otherwise.

What beta players actually reported

Because the test was under NDA for most participants, the public record is thin and mixed in quality. The consistent points across hands-on coverage:

• Combat is built on a two-button core — attack and block/counter — with contextual finishers once an enemy's stamina is broken.
• Environmental weapons are central: props in the world become weapons, and enemies can be disarmed.
• Traversal is unrestricted by a stamina bar for sprinting, climbing and swimming, with grapple-swinging between buildings.
• Character switching happens inside missions, not just at hubs.

Those points line up with the official framing. Anything more specific — damage numbers, drop tables, mission counts — should be treated as unverified.

FAQ

Is there an open beta for Ananta?

Not announced. Only the January 2025 technical test and the January 2026 closed beta have run, and neither was open.

Was the Ananta beta on console?

No. CBT1 was PC only. PS5 and mobile have not had a public test, even though they are confirmed launch platforms.

Do I need a key?

CBT1 required selection through pre-registration plus NetEase's own process. There is no key to buy.

Can I still sign up for the beta?

Only by pre-registering and waiting for the next official call. There is no active test sign-up.

Will there be a beta before January 15, 2027?

NetEase has indicated more tests will happen, but no schedule exists. To be confirmed.