Hey publishers!
We want to start this one off with a heartfelt thank you to everyone who's supported News Tower. Your excitement, feedback, and love for the game have meant everything to us. It's been amazing to see how many of you have built thriving newspaper empires, experimented with editorial styles, and filled New York with headlines. We're thrilled to see the community growing, and we’re even more excited about what’s just around the corner.
We’re getting closer to the full 1.0 release of News Tower, and we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make it the most newsworthy version of the game yet. And yes, a community playtest is coming soon, where you’ll get an early look at the new features!
Updated Development Roadmap
As we zero in on the finish line, we’ve made adjustments to the roadmap to help bring the 1.0 launch to you faster — and with even more content packed in.
All future content is now 1.0-focused
We've officially wrapped up pre-launch updates. That means everything we’re working on from here out is going straight into the 1.0 release.
No summer update
We’ve decided to merge the summer update with the 1.0 release on the roadmap to keep our focus squarely on 1.0. But don’t worry — a community playtest will be arriving soon so we can gather your feedback and polish the new features together.
The goal? A stronger, more feature-rich 1.0 — and a shorter wait to get there.
Sneak Peek at 1.0 Features
Let’s take a quick look at a few of the big features arriving in the 1.0 release. We’ll be sharing more details on each one in future posts, but here’s a preview to whet your appetite:
Competitor System
You’re not the only paper in town anymore. In the mid-to-late game, two rival newspapers will emerge on the readership map. If you clash in the same area, you’ll trigger a district conflict — a battle of popularity where only one paper comes out on top. Get ready to fight for your turf!
Perception System
Time to define your editorial voice. Are you Informational, Moderate, or Sensational? Do you chase hard facts, balanced stories, or eye-grabbing headlines? Your editorial line will now shape how readers view your paper and unlock specific ways to gain extra sales. Choose wisely each week to match the needs of your audience or personal preference.
Faction System
Factions are getting a major upgrade in 1.0. You’ll be dealing with four key factions in New York: the Mafia, the Military, the Mayor, and High Society. Each faction includes four NPCs, each with their own quests and agendas. Helping one might make enemies of another, so navigate carefully. Build your reputation, complete missions, and earn unique rewards for your newsroom. Each faction holds specific perks and trade-offs to ensure your choices have an impact on your gameplay.
Leaderboards
With the release of News Tower 1.0, we are also implementing leaderboards. Compete against other news tycoons to see who can make the most out of their years in the business! You'll be able to post and compare your scores against other players, and we look forward to seeing who can get the best score after release.
Endgame and New Towers
We've implemented two new towers that you'll be able to unlock through play. The highrise and lowrise. One is a tall, thin building that costs less per floor but requires very efficient use of space. The other is a wide, short building that costs more per floor, but you get way more space to place your gear. Have fun creating your news empire in these two new news towers, coming with the release of 1.0.
Also what’s a good story without a strong ending? With 1.0, News Tower will finally have a true conclusion. We won’t spoil it for you — you’ll have to uncover it yourself and find out what kind of publisher you have become. Keep publishing every Sunday, expand your influence, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find out what that ending has in store.
We'll not spoil this one with an image. You'll have to find out more on your own!
What’s Next
That’s just a taste of what’s coming — and we’ll be digging deeper into each of these systems in upcoming blogs.
We can’t wait to get 1.0 into your hands, and the upcoming community playtest is going to be a key part of that process. Keep your eyes on this space for announcements, sneak peeks, and more in-depth breakdowns of the new content. Be sure to join our Discord server to participate when it begins!
As a quick summary of what's to come with the 1.0 release:
Rival newspapers & district conflicts
New perception system
Full faction questlines
Narrative endgame
Community playtest
and more...!
Thank you again for being part of the News Tower journey. We're almost there!
The News Tower Team