Open-World Creature Collector Aniimo Launches Globally September 16 — PC and Consoles First, Mobile on the 23rd

The Headline

Aniimo, a free-to-play open-world creature-catching RPG developed by Pawprint Studio and published by Kingsglory, launches globally on September 16. It arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PC (Steam and Epic), with mobile (iOS and Android) following one week later on September 23.

The global launch time is 10:00 AM China Standard Time (UTC+8). Pawprint Studio is a new label established by the global publisher FunPlus, and Aniimo is the studio's first announced project.

Sources: Inven Global — September 16 global launch · Gematsu — Launches September 16 · Steam Store

Release Details at a Glance

Game Overview — The Continent of Idyll

Aniimo is an open-world RPG in which players freely explore the vast continent of Idyll, collecting and raising magical creatures known as Aniimo. More than 200 creatures are available at launch, and they appear differently depending on environment, weather, natural phenomena, and time of day — some show up only at night, or only in rainy regions.

Catching is handled with a dedicated tool, the Aniipod: you set traps and time your capture. Collected creatures grow through evolution. Layered on top are open-world life systems including real-time combat, multiplayer, and housing.

The Core System — Twining

What sets Aniimo apart from other collectors is the Twine (Twining) system. When you Twine with a creature you have collected, your character physically merges with it and transforms into that creature, taking direct control.

Rather than "sending out" a creature to fight, you become the creature and roam the world as it. Depending on which creature you take, you unlock exploration skills such as flying, swimming, and burrowing, letting you push past terrain limits and reach every corner of Idyll. Collecting thus feeds directly into your mobility, combat, and exploration toolkit.

Background — FunPlus Pushing Into PC and Console

Aniimo has built anticipation across several showcases, with trailers at The Game Awards (TGA), the Future Games Show, and Gamescom 2026, plus a global closed beta. Notably, FunPlus — a publisher that grew in mobile and PC — is using Aniimo to widen its footprint into a cross-platform free-to-play RPG that spans consoles as well.

Opening on PC and console first, then adding mobile a week later, reads as a strategy to capture early buzz among PC and console core players before channeling the broader mobile audience into the same world.

Market and Community Reaction

The creature-collecting genre — frequently compared to Pokémon-style games — is seeing explosive demand. Aniimo lowers the barrier with a free-to-play, open-world, cross-platform combination, and the no-cost entry raises expectations for a strong early inflow. The main caveat, inherent to free-to-play, is that the balance of its monetization model will shape long-term reputation. The volume of 200-plus creatures and the novelty of Twining should drive early buzz, while content cadence and monetization design will decide lasting success.

Why It Matters

Creature collecting and free-to-play open worlds are a familiar, high-demand combination worldwide, and Aniimo's cross-platform reach makes it easy to jump between devices. Because it is free, players can sample it without commitment and then judge whether its systems and monetization fit their play style. At launch, it is worth watching each platform's stability, live-service cadence, and how aggressive the store is — the usual questions for any new free-to-play world.

GamePeak Takeaway

Aniimo aims to stand out atop the genre's hot demand by fusing "collect, transform, explore" into a single Twine loop. Free entry and cross-platform reach give it favorable early conditions, but long-term success ultimately hinges on update speed and monetization balance. The stability and sentiment after the first servers open on September 16 will be its opening test.