Static Hour Announced: 1980s News Bureau Thriller
Barkbyte Interactive has announced Static Hour, a story-focused thriller adventure game set in a 1980s news bureau in a small town under a mysterious lockdown. The player takes on the role of a night-shift news editor who must judge the credibility of incoming information and decide what to broadcast. The game unfolds from an isometric perspective, with the player never leaving the bureau. Information arrives via phone calls from citizens, emergency radio, reports from local reporters, and notes left behind. This information can be incomplete, contradictory, or deliberately misleading, requiring additional reporting to verify. The player's broadcast choices affect the town's state, including citizen reactions and trust in the news bureau. Accurate reporting can calm the town, while sensational or uncertain content may spread panic, and withholding important information can have serious consequences. The game uses 1980s analog technology, including CRT monitors, rotary card holders, dial telephones, and radio receivers. Static Hour is planned for release on PC via Steam, with Japanese language support. The release date is undecided.