ANANTA does not use gacha mechanics for characters. This was confirmed through multiple outlets covering Famitsu interviews with the developers at TGS 2025, and reinforced by the January 2026 CBT. All characters are earned through gameplay.
Ananta eliminates randomized character pulls entirely, distinguishing it from most free-to-play games. Players build their roster through narrative progression and open-world discovery rather than gacha mechanics.
How you unlock characters
Story progression characters join your roster as you advance through the narrative. The Captain starts solo and recruits Taffy early on.
Open-world discovery characters can be encountered while exploring Nova City. They follow daily routines through the city life system, enabling natural encounters based on location and time of day.
What Costs Money
Revenue comes from cosmetic purchasesoutfitsvehicle skins, and housing furniture. There is a cosmetic gacha for outfits and accessories, but not for characters themselves. See Cosmetic Monetization for details.
Acquisition Methods
Story Progression - Characters join the roster organically as players advance through the narrative. The Captain begins solo and recruits team members like Taffy through story events that establish their backgrounds, personalities, and motivations.
Open-World Discovery - Players can encounter characters while exploring Nova City's Manhattan-sized environment. The game has a 24/7 NPC Cycle where characters follow daily routines, enabling natural encounters based on exploration and time of day.
Design Principles
The system follows key principles that distinguish it from traditional gacha games:
Guaranteed Progression - Continued gameplay definitively unlocks new characters without randomization or chance.
No Time Pressure - Characters remain permanently accessible with no limited-time banners or FOMO tactics.
No Pity Systems - Mercy mechanics are unnecessary when acquisition is deterministic.
Narrative Coherence - Characters join for story reasons that make sense within the game world.
Roster Development
Players start with only The Captain (male/female option). Characters unlock at steady intervals:
Early game - Core team members like Taffy join through initial story events.
Mid-game - Specialists including Seymour, Richie, and Bansy become available.
Late-game - Advanced characters like Dila and Lykaia unlock as the story progresses.
Exploration bonus - Optional characters can be discovered through world investigation.
Developer Philosophy
NetEase's strategy states: 'satisfy users through compelling storylines and natural character progression, and revenue will follow organically through a larger, more engaged player base rather than exploiting a smaller group of heavy spenders.'
Revenue comes from cosmetics, real estate, and visual customization rather than Character Acquisition, representing significant industry risk but potentially attracting broader audiences through ethical monetization.