NTE Neverness to Everness: our complete guide to the 2026 RPG

Released worldwide on April 29, 2026 after a lengthy beta phase, NTE: Neverness to Everness has established itself within a few weeks as one of the most talked-about gacha releases of the year. Developed by Hotta Studio (the creators of Tower of Fantasy), published by Perfect World Games and distributed internationally with the support of Level Infinite, the title offers a bold mix: an urban action RPG, a contemporary open world with cars and supernatural powers, all set in the sprawling city of Hethereau. Here is our complete rundown as of July 2026 on what the game actually offers, what it's worth, and how it positions itself against Zenless Zone Zero and Wuthering Waves.

Game status in July 2026: available everywhere

After a cross-platform Coexistence Test from February 6 to 20, 2026 (PC, PS5, iOS, Android), Hotta Studio followed up with a Chinese open beta on April 23, 2026, then a worldwide release on April 29, 2026. Since July 2026, NTE has also been available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Samsung Galaxy Store, which has considerably widened its Western audience.

• Worldwide release: April 29, 2026 (PC via official launcher, PS5, iOS, Android, macOS, HarmonyOS)
• Steam / Epic / Galaxy Store: available since July 2026
• Business model: free-to-play with gacha and optional purchases
• Internet connection required (always online)
• Rating: PEGI 12
• Localization: game fully translated into French (interface, subtitles, quests)

According to figures reported by the specialized press, NTE reportedly generated close to 100 million yuan (around 13 million euros) on launch day, a solid start that reassured observers about the project's viability after the mixed reception of Tower of Fantasy.

Hethereau: a city-as-character built for exploration

The heart of NTE is Hethereau, a fictional modern metropolis where humans, spirits, and anomalies coexist in a daily life that is both chaotic and fascinating. The city is divided into themed districts, each with its own visual and sound atmosphere, and is packed with hidden alleyways, secret shops, and anomaly zones to investigate.

"Hethereau isn't just a backdrop: it's a character in its own right, with its own schedules, rumors, and inhabitants who live their lives even when you're not watching them." — excerpt from a French-language review published on xboxlive.fr

To get around, players have several options:

• On foot, with a stamina system covering running, climbing, jumping, and swimming
• In a customizable vehicle (cars, motorcycles, with a wanted system reminiscent of Need for Speed in certain areas)
• Via phone booths that serve as teleportation points
• By unlocking the Wertheimer towers, monoliths that reveal map sections and activate fast travel
• Through story-driven transport such as the famous ghost train

The Esper Cycle system: NTE's true signature

Real-time combat relies on teams of four characters, each tied to one of the six Esper Ability types:

• Lakshana — manifestation and fortune powers
• Cosmos — cosmic and gravitational energies
• Anima — vital forces and affinity with spirits
• Incantation — ritual magic and prepared spells
• Chaos — raw damage and disruptions
• Psyché — mind control and illusions

The strength of the system, called Esper Cycle, lies in the elemental reactions triggered when you chain several types together in tag-team. It's structurally close to what Zenless Zone Zero and Wuthering Waves offer, but with greater tactical depth thanks to the parry and perfect dodge system that rewards reading enemy animations.

Two archetypes come up often in team compositions: the Condensate (main DPS in charge of dealing the big damage) and the Liquid (support/healer who keeps the team alive). A third cog, the break support, is used to break anomalies' armor before burst windows.

Characters and social life: the Bagel app

The hero played by the player is an unlicensed anomaly hunter (sometimes translated as "Evaluator" in the French version) who joins Eibon, an antiques shop in the center of Hethereau. Around him orbits a gallery of eccentric and endearing companions, including the famous Danzaburou, one of the faces put forward during marketing campaigns.

Socializing goes through an in-game app called Bagel, a social network pastiche that handles:

• Invitations to companion quests
• Relationship mini-games (photos, gifts, messaging)
• Ongoing events such as 999 Nights, Fishing Frenzy, Going, Going, Gone! or Shadow-n-Seek
• Booking of side activities (delivery, taxi, fishing)

"The Bagel app is probably the game's biggest surprise: it turns everyday life mechanics into a narrative thread, a bit as if Persona 5 had merged with a modern open world." — editorial impression, after 40 hours of play

Platforms, cross-save and technical requirements

NTE runs on Unreal Engine 5 and relies on a full cross-save infrastructure: your PC progress is identical on PS5 and on mobile, with no manipulation needed. The official list of platforms is as follows:

• PC: Windows via Perfect World launcher, Steam and Epic Games Store
• Mac: macOS via dedicated client
• PlayStation 5 (including PS5 Pro)
• iOS, Android, HarmonyOS
• Samsung Galaxy Store

The game supports co-op for up to 4 players on certain high-level content, while the main campaign remains solo. The daily reset takes place at 5 a.m. (daylight saving time), a useful detail for organizing daily runs before the rewards reset.

NTE versus Zenless Zone Zero and Wuthering Waves: where does it stand?

The French-speaking press (Actugaming, Millenium, Xboxlive.fr) and English-speaking press (Gaming.net, Game8) often sum up NTE as "the illegitimate child of Genshin Impact and Need for Speed". Compared to its direct competitors in the action gacha genre, here is how it positions itself:

• vs Zenless Zone Zero (Hoyoverse): NTE plays the true open-world card where ZZZ chains together instances. Combat is slower but more tactical, with wider parry windows.
• vs Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games): Wuthering Waves stays ahead on pure aerial combat fluidity. NTE takes the advantage on urban life, vehicle customization and social density.
• vs Tower of Fantasy (its older sibling): Hotta Studio has clearly taken the criticism of ToF on board. NTE bets on better-written storytelling, a gentler progression pace and less aggressive early monetization.

The title has not avoided controversy: it has been accused of using AI-generated visuals on some promotional materials. The developers acknowledged a "limited" use for background elements, without this affecting the characters or the cutscenes.

Should you jump in in July 2026?

Three months after launch, NTE benefits from an ideal window for new players: the first live phase introduced two major characters, a new district in southeast Hethereau and the 999 Nights event. Rerolling remains relatively quick thanks to the guaranteed pulls from the extended tutorial.

What to know before you dive in:

• Budget around 60 to 80 GB of disk space on PC (the mobile client is lighter thanks to asset streaming)
• The Enhanced graphics mode on PS5 Pro runs at a stable 60 fps, versus 40-50 on standard PS5
• The English localization is solid for the interface, more uneven on some side quests
• The gacha pity is set at 80 guaranteed pulls for 6-star characters

To go further

• Official NTE: Neverness to Everness website (Hotta Studio / Perfect World)
• Steam page — download, reviews and achievements
• Complete Actugaming guide — codes, maps, tier list
• Detailed review by Xboxlive.fr
• Millenium French-language guides
• Fandom Wiki: Esper Cycle system

NTE: Neverness to Everness has the merit of offering a strong identity within a gacha genre that is often formulaic. Its urban wager, its vehicles, its polished writing and its original combat system place it among the credible alternatives to ZZZ and Wuthering Waves. It remains to be seen whether Hotta Studio can keep up the pace of updates over the long haul — an exercise where Tower of Fantasy precisely stumbled.