Aniimo: How to Preload on PC, PS5, and Xbox Ahead of Launch

Aniimo, the free-to-play creature-catching open-world RPG from Pawprint Studio, opened its pre-download on September 14, 2026, ahead of a full launch on PC and consoles. Getting the files down early means you can jump straight in the moment servers open instead of waiting on a download.

Quick answer: Preloading is live now. On PC it’s free through the official launcher or Steam. On PS5 and Xbox you must buy the $9.99 Advanced or $19.99 Collector’s pack before you can download.

Preload schedule and server launch times

Pre-download opened on September 14, 2026, at 10:00 (UTC+8) across Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game goes live on those platforms on September 16, 2026, at 10:00 (UTC+8). Mobile players on iOS and Android get their release one week later, on September 23, 2026.

Aniimo gameplay on a beach with the T Recall prompt shown on the right of the screen — The player character on a beach, with the T Recall prompt visible on the right of the HUD. Image: Pawprint Studio

The unlock rolls out by regional server, so your exact start time depends on which server you play on.

Server	Launch time
Aniimo-America	September 15, 2026, 22:00 (UTC-4)
Aniimo-Europe	September 16, 2026, 02:00 (UTC+0)
Aniimo-Apac	September 16, 2026, 10:00 (UTC+8)

Preload Aniimo on PC for free

PC is the only platform where you can preload without paying anything. You have two options: the standalone launcher from the official site, or a straight preload on Steam. Both pull down the same client, so pick whichever fits how you plan to play.

Aniimo character running toward a glowing lava barrier inside a volcanic fortress — In-game exploration near a glowing lava barrier inside a volcanic area. Image: Pawprint Studio

Official PC launcher

Download the PC launcher installer. Make sure you have at least 40 GB of free space first, ideally on an SSD.

Download the Aniimo PC launcher

Run the installer and choose where you want the game to live. The client installs to the launcher’s folder by default, so set a custom directory here if you want it elsewhere.

Tick the box to accept the User Agreement and Privacy Policy, then click Install to finish setting up the launcher.

Open the launcher and download the full game files so everything is ready before servers open.

Keep your install path in English characters only. A directory with non-alphabetic characters can cause login errors on some systems.

Steam preload

Open the Aniimo store page on Steam.

Hit the pre-load button to begin downloading the game directly through Steam.

Preload Aniimo on PS5 and Xbox

On consoles the preload is locked behind a purchase. Even though the base game is free to play once it launches, PS5 and Xbox players can only download early after buying one of the two pre-order packs. Both editions include a platform-exclusive accessory and a battle pass.

Edition	Price	Included extras
Advanced Edition	$9.99	Exclusive accessory + Companion Handbook (Premium Pass)
Collector’s Edition	$19.99	Exclusive accessory + Collector’s Pass, plus an exclusive Doll and Avatar Frame

The exclusive accessory differs by platform. PS5 pre-orders get the Fluffy Friend, while Xbox pre-orders get the Doggo Dude.

Aniimo character performing a forward attack with three on-screen action prompts — Real-time combat, with the orange-tailed player character mid-attack and three action prompts on screen. Image: Pawprint Studio

PlayStation 5

Open the Aniimo page on the PlayStation Store and buy either the Advanced or Collector’s pack.

Head to your library and start the download. The PS5 client must be installed on the console’s internal SSD, so keep 30–35 GB free.

Xbox Series X|S

Open the Aniimo store page on Xbox and purchase either edition.

Go to your library and begin the download, again leaving roughly 30–35 GB of free space. Xbox Cloud Gaming is also supported if you would rather stream through your Microsoft account.

Storage space and PC system requirements

Before you start any download, confirm you have room and that your PC meets the specs. Falling short on storage or dropping below the minimum spec can stall the install or cause the game to fail on launch.

PC: 40 GB of available space, SSD recommended
PS5 and Xbox: roughly 30–35 GB of free space
Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10 or newer with DirectX 11
A broadband internet connection

Player character wading through shallow water with HUD controls and party icons visible — Open-world exploration through shallow water, with HUD controls and party icons on screen. Image: Pawprint Studio / Serrohverse

Component	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	Intel Core i7-4770 / AMD Ryzen 7 2700	Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600
GPU	NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD RX 5600	NVIDIA RTX 3060 / AMD RX 6700
RAM	8 GB	16 GB
Storage	40 GB	40 GB

Confirm the preload worked

You will know the preload finished when the launcher or your console library shows the game fully downloaded and ready rather than mid-update. At that point there is nothing left to do but wait for your server to open.

If you try to start the game before the launch window, you will hit a login error at the server connection step. That is expected behavior while servers are still closed, and it clears automatically once your region unlocks at the times listed above.

Combat on a shoreline in Aniimo before the game goes live — Shoreline combat in Aniimo, the free-to-play creature-catching RPG launching September 16. Image: Pawprint Studio