Does ANANTA have multiplayer? Co-op, online and cross-play explained

Yes, a multiplayer mode is coming, but its format isn’t public. A NetEase representative told the Japanese site AUTOMATON on September 14, 2026 that the current story and maps may feel single-player, but a multiplayer mode is in development and will be detailed at an appropriate time (fact in the registry).

What the developers have said

• September 2025, IGN Japan: producer Ash described multiplayer as a closed format for friends and said you can play solo or take on harder missions together (fact in the registry).
• September 2025, Famitsu: Ash said a multiplayer mode is planned, stressed that ANANTA isn’t an MMORPG and called multiplayer one of many play elements.
• September 2026, AUTOMATON: a multiplayer mode is in development; NetEase will announce details later.

Why Steam says MMO

The Steam page lists Multi-player, MMO, Co-op, Online Co-op and Cross-Platform Multiplayer among the game’s categories (fact in the registry). Developers pick these tags when they set up a store page, and they aren’t an announcement. The producer’s own words point the other way: co-op with friends, not an MMO.

Do you need to be online?

On PS5, yes: the PlayStation Store page says online play is required (fact in the registry). The same page lists one network player. NetEase hasn’t said whether PC and mobile need a permanent connection, or whether co-op on PS5 needs PlayStation Plus.

Update, October 28: on August 26, 2026 the Japanese store listed 24 online players, and by the next morning it said one (fact in the registry). The rest of the PS5 listing is in ANANTA on PS5 and PS5 Pro.

Is there cross-play or cross-save?

Not announced. Steam’s Cross-Platform Multiplayer tag is a store category, and Dengeki Online’s October 11 summary also lists cross-play and cross-save as unannounced. Whether one account keeps its progress on PC, PS5 and phones is on our list of open questions.

How it fits with switching characters

Most of what has been shown is single-player: you switch between characters, each with a job of their own. Producer Ash told Famitsu in 2025 that characters you aren’t controlling follow daily routines, such as work hours and favorite shops, and that switching to one nearby lets them respond to an incident.

What is still unknown

• How many players can play together.
• Whether PC, PS5 and phone players can meet.
• Whether progress is shared between platforms.
• Whether co-op on PS5 needs PlayStation Plus.
• Whether multiplayer is available on January 15 or arrives later.

The co-op mode has its own page in the database, and the rest of the systems are in ANANTA gameplay explained.