Tencent's 'Ananta' (Project Mugen) and Other Major Open-World Games Target Late 2026 Release

The open-world genre continues to be a dominant force in mobile gaming, with several major titles aiming for a 2026 release.

Among the most anticipated is 'Ananta', the open-world adventure formerly known as 'Project Mugen'.

Developed by Tencent, 'Ananta' has been showcased through gameplay reveal trailers, demonstrating a vibrant city to explore, various events, and a story about saving the metropolis from giant monsters and meteorites.

While an official beta has yet to be announced, the game is currently slated for a late 2026 release, promising a massive and engaging world.

This space is becoming increasingly crowded with high-quality contenders.

'Neverness to Everness', developed by Perfect World's 幻塔 Studio (makers of 'Tower of Fantasy'), is another supernatural urban open-world RPG.

This game aims to offer a unique blend of action RPG combat and real-life simulation, allowing players to race cars, own and decorate property, and change outfits.

It's shaping up to be a 'neat' title that combines high-concept fantasy with relatable life-sim elements.

Early 2026 has already seen significant developments in this area, with the game having launched in China and preparing for a global release.

The interest in this genre is also driving technological innovation, as seen with Qualcomm's partnership to optimize 'Neverness to Everness' for Unreal Engine 5 on mobile.

These upcoming games are not just ambitious in scale but also in their technical demands.

They represent a push to deliver true console-like open-world experiences on mobile devices, complete with high-fidelity graphics, dense urban environments, and complex physics.

The success of these titles in late 2026 will likely set the standard for open-world mobile games for years to come [citation:1][citation:6].