News Tower News

[p]Hey publishers!

With 1.0 on the way for November 04, let's keep going with the Road to 1.0 series. It’s time to talk about power, politics, and the people pulling strings behind the scenes. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on one of the cornerstone systems coming to News Tower in 1.0 — the Faction System.

You’ve battled deadlines, juggled staff, and soon you'll fight off rival newspapers... but here we'll talk about how you will deal with the big players. Welcome to the back rooms and smoky lounges of New York City — where favors go further than facts, and the right connections can make or break your empire.


[/p][h2]The Four Factions[/h2][p]When 1.0 hits, you’ll be able to build friendly relationships (or make enemies) with four powerful factions vying for influence:

High Society – A true patron to the city's culture and people, they desire a free press.
Military – Order, discipline, and the iron fist behind the city’s protection.
The Mayor – Civic power with a sharp eye on public image and policy.
The Mafia – Operating in the shadows, but always in control of something.



These groups hold serious sway in New York — and they’re watching your paper closely.


[/p][h2]Earn Their Favor... or Their Wrath[/h2][p]Each faction offers four unique bonuses that can help power up your newsroom. Want to speed up your operations? Need extra resources? Looking for protection or exclusives? There's something for everyone — but you’ll have to earn it.

To climb the ranks with a faction, you’ll take on agenda—specific tasks handed out by the people in power. Each faction has two unique NPCs, each with their own tone, flavor, and missions to offer. Align your weekly goals with a faction’s needs, and you’ll see your reputation rise. But beware:
[/p][p][/p][p]
Support one group too much, and you might make enemies elsewhere. Helping the Mafia too often? Don’t expect the Mayor to send flowers. Cozying up to the Military? High Society might not invite you to their next gala.

It’s all about balancing relationships, managing risk, and deciding who you’re willing to anger in pursuit of progress.


[/p][h2]Pick a Side (But Choose Carefully)[/h2][p]This isn’t just about making friends — it’s about strategic alliances. Do you want a clean, public-facing paper with support from the Mayor and Military? Or are you willing to deal in whispers and favors for the raw power of the Mafia or High Society?
[/p][p][/p][p]Every decision matters, because once a faction's opinion of you drops below even “Hated” status... that door slams shut for good. No more agendas. No more bonuses. No more second chances. So think ahead. Plan smart. And maybe keep one eye on the exit. [/p][h2]More to Come[/h2][p]We’ll be diving into each faction in future blogs, with a closer look at their personalities, bonuses. But for now — start thinking about who you’ll want in your corner.

In the city that never sleeps, everyone wants something. The question is: who will you choose to ally yourself with?


– The News Tower Team[/p]

[h2]November 04, 2025 – New York City[/h2]

As the ink dries on the final editions of test print runs, all eyes are on an up-and-coming publication preparing to shake the very foundations of the newspaper world. News Tower, a newspaper tycoon management game set in the hustle and grit of 1930s New York, will officially launch on November 04, 2025, bringing players into the chaotic, colorful, and competitive heart of the city’s golden age of news.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

According to sources close to the press floor, the 1.0 version of News Tower will include a full suite of features designed to challenge, delight, and immerse aspiring tycoons in the fine art of publishing.



[h2]FEATURES HEADLINED FOR RELEASE:[/h2]

[h3]🗞️ Live the Life of a 1930s Publisher[/h3]
Step into the polished shoes of a fresh-faced editor in 1930s NYC — build your paper, break the news, and rise through the ranks as you try to dominate the city’s information economy.



[h3]🏙️ Compete for Control of the City[/h3]
Outmaneuver rival newspapers like The Jersey Beacon and Empire Observer in a strategic battle for district dominance. Watch your control over New York grow as you push your competitors out of strategic positions on the map to claim your newfound readership!



[h3]🤝 Align with Powerful Factions[/h3]
Will you cozy up to the Mayor’s office, follow military orders, dine with High Society, or deal under the table with the Mafia? Each faction offers quests, bonuses, and political weight — but choose carefully. Favor with one may sour your relationship with another.



[h3]🏢 Manage Your Tower from Top to Bottom[/h3]
From layout to logistics, manage every floor of your growing empire. Upgrade rooms, assign departments, and fine-tune your workflow from the first word to the final print.



[h3]🧠 Master the Newspaper Business[/h3]
Curate your stories, choose your editorial tone, and decide how sensational or serious your paper will be. Balance reputation, perception, and revenue as you chase the perfect front page.



[h3]😊 Take Care of Your Employees[/h3]
A happy employee makes for productive staff. From late-night deadlines to a clean workplace, your team’s well-being matters. Keep them motivated, rested, and ready to roll those presses.



[h3]🌍 Uncover stories from across the globe[/h3]
New York isn’t the only place making headlines. As your newsroom grows, so does your reach. Send reporters out into the world to chase leads, uncover hidden scandals, and bring back stories that will captivate your readers and define your legacy.





[h2]What’s Next?[/h2]

Between now and launch, we’ll be releasing more deep dives into 1.0’s biggest features, like the ones already done for competitors — such as a closer look at factions, and more. There’s still time to wishlist the game, jump into our community discussions, and prepare yourself to make your big debut onto the news scene.

Mark your calendars: November 04, 2025 — the battle for New York’s readership begins.

Thanks for being part of the journey. We wouldn’t be here without your support.

We've also got a sale on now, ending August 28. This is the last chance to take advantage of it before 1.0 launches in November. Additionally, due to us leaving Early Access in November with all of the new content and features coming with 1.0 we will be increasing the price from $19.99 to $24.99 with launch. Don't miss out on becoming the best news publisher of 1930s New York for the lowest price!

Don't forget to join us on Discord to talk with the community and devs about everything News Tower. We can't wait to see you there!





– The News Tower Team

[p]Hey publishers! [/p][p]Today, we're diving deep into one of the biggest and boldest new features coming in the 1.0 release of News Tower — the Competitor System. This mid-to-late game mechanic brings an entirely new level of challenge, strategy, and drama to your newsroom. You’ve built your paper up from nothing, hired your dream team, and found your voice... but now it’s time to defend your throne.[/p][p]Welcome to the media wars.[/p][p][/p][h2]Meet Your Rivals[/h2][p]In the later stages of the game, two rival newspapers will rise to challenge your dominance over New York, appearing on the far edges of the district map:[/p]

• [p]The Jersey Beacon — The Jersey Beacon is an old-school newspaper. They talk like your grandpa, but they've got sources from Albany to the Atlantic. Not a competitor to take lightly.[/p]
• [p]The Empire Observer — These guys have got gloss, bite, and some real Wall Street polish. They're putting out half lies and half ads, but dagnabbit, they sell well.[/p]

[p]These aren’t just names on the map — they’re your competitors trying to prevent you from fully claiming hard-earned territory, and will happily try to steal articles from you. Don't let them stop you from claiming more territory and gaining more readers for your paper![/p][p][/p][h2]A New Layer of Strategy[/h2][p][/p][p]The Competitor System adds a fresh twist to News Tower's core loop. Suddenly, every district choice matters. Every week becomes a decision: should you expand your influence to new territories, or challenge a rival head-on to oust them completely? It introduces:[/p][p]More late-game complexity and variety that shifts your actions weekly to pressure you to balance growth and territory control.[/p][p]Best of all? It helps capture the feeling of really competing in the cutthroat world of media. This is your moment to prove you’re not just a publisher — you’re a media tycoon.[/p][p][/p][h2]A City Divided[/h2][p][/p][p]Once they enter the scene, each week you can choose to play it safe by expanding your territory to new districts or work to oust your competitors from theirs. Here’s how it works:[/p][p]Once you control 24 districts, your competitors will appear, splitting the map in half between them. [/p]

1. [p]Each week, you can select a single district to focus on, like before, but now you have to face a conflict if you are already in that area to push your competitor out completely. This can be recognised by the golden crowns on the districts' required articles.[/p]
2. [p]If you want to expand your influence to an untouched or incomplete district, your week will progress as it had before. This allows you to grow your readership without major interference from your competitors.[/p]
3. [p]As the week progresses, if you're involved in a district conflict, they'll work to steal your important news items to gain favor with the public, preventing you from taking complete control there.[/p]
4. [p]If your Perception & Calendar overlap with a competitor for that week, you'll lose a percentage of your sales to them no matter what district you're working on. So watch out for where your perception will land.[/p][p] [/p]

[p][/p][h2]District Conflicts: May the Best Paper Win[/h2][p]When a conflict is triggered, the stakes get higher. Fast-paced and dynamic, these clashes will test your team’s efficiency and your ability to make quick decisions.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Time-sensitive stories will appear — get to them first, or your rival might scoop them up before you even roll out the presses.[/p]
• [p]Ensure you're targeting what the district wants as you jostle for dominance.[/p]
• [p]Careful, though; what the district needs may conflict with what certain influential people want from you...[/p]

[p]These moments create a thrilling sense of urgency and choice, offering some of the most intense and rewarding gameplay in News Tower.[/p][p][/p][h2]Extra Surprises[/h2][p]This system also opens the door for scoops — triggered by district conflicts. Some stories will appear which are related to the goals for the district that week and your competitor will try to get to them first. Make sure you have a reporter available for these reports, lest your competitor beats you to it![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We've also implemented the spy risk tag on news. This is where a competitor directly tries to sabotage your articles until they have been discovered, compromising your news. You'll need to watch out for this, find spies in your organisation, and make sure your editors are at the top of their game![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The Competitor System is just one piece of the 1.0 puzzle, but it’s one we’re incredibly excited about. It brings a whole new kind of tension, fun, and narrative weight to your climb to the top.[/p][p]We’ll be sharing even more details about the other upcoming features soon, including the updated factions and perception systems, and you’ll get to try them out yourself during our upcoming community playtest! Don't forget there is way more than just this in the upcoming test! There is SO MUCH TO DO!!![/p][p]Be sure to join us on our Discord to stay up to date with the latest information about News Tower.[/p][p]

[/p][p]Until then, keep publishing, keep growing, and keep an eye on your rivals...[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The News Tower Team[/p]

[p]Greetings Newsbearers! The wait is almost over — we’re thrilled to announce that the News Tower Community Playtest is officially kicking off today, July 23! [/p][p]This is your chance to get hands-on with some of the biggest new features coming in the 1.0 release. We’re opening the newsroom doors early so you can try out new systems like Competitors, Perception, Factions, and more — and most importantly, share your feedback with us as we move toward launch. [/p][p][/p][h2]What to Expect: [/h2][h3]A first look at major 1.0 content including: [/h3]

• [p]The new Competitor System [/p]
• [p]The updated Factions System [/p]
• [p]The new Perception System [/p]
• [p]A leaderboard for your highest scores achieved in News Tower! (Leaderboard will not carry over to the live game)[/p]
• [p]New gameplay systems that shake up how you build your news empire. [/p]
• [p]A chance to help shape the final release with your input [/p]

[p][/p][p]You can read all about the various features coming in 1.0 in our recent Road to 1.0 blog here: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]You can get more information on how to join the playtest via our Discord in the #community-test-faq channel. The presses are rolling, so it's time to get reporting. Don't lose out to your competitors and make sure you're meeting the needs of the different factions and your readers! [/p][p]IMPORTANT: Your save data from the live game will not work on the Community Test, and likewise, any progress made on the Community Test will not carry back over to the live game, or the 1.0 release.[/p][p]We can’t wait to hear what you think, and we’re incredibly grateful for your help as we make News Tower the best it can be. Stay tuned for more info soon! [/p][p][/p][p]– The News Tower Team[/p]

[p]Hey publishers![/p][p]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.[/p][p]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![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p][/p][h3]All future content is now 1.0-focused[/h3][p]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.[/p][p][/p][h3]No summer update[/h3][p]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.[/p][p]The goal? A stronger, more feature-rich 1.0 — and a shorter wait to get there.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]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:[/p][p][/p][h3]Competitor System[/h3][p]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![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Perception System[/h3][p]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.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Faction System[/h3][p]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.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Leaderboards[/h3][p]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. [/p][p][/p][h3]Endgame and New Towers[/h3][p]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.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]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.[/p][p]We'll not spoil this one with an image. You'll have to find out more on your own! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s just a taste of what’s coming — and we’ll be digging deeper into each of these systems in upcoming blogs.[/p][p]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![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As a quick summary of what's to come with the 1.0 release:[/p]

• [p]Rival newspapers & district conflicts [/p]

• [p]New perception system [/p]

• [p]Full faction questlines [/p]

• [p]Narrative endgame [/p]

• [p]Community playtest [/p]

• [p]and more...! [/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Thank you again for being part of the News Tower journey. We're almost there![/p][p][/p][p]The News Tower Team[/p]