1. News Tower
  2. News

News Tower News

Minor Update #0.18.613.r

Greetings Newsbearers!


We've now rolled out a minor update that includes several supplementary desks for you to use and improve your office. If you're looking to spruce up your office, or improve the abilities of your reporters, you won't want to miss out on adding these to their workspace!

[h2]📋 New Supplementary Desks[/h2]
  • 3 new supplementary desks
    • Crime stopper
    • Weather report
    • Crossword puzzle
    • All new desks can be purchased on the map in the photo hub, illustration hub, and the cartographer hub


[h2]🐛 Bug Fixes[/h2]
  • Several minor bug fixes




That's it for now, but we'll be back again soon with further additions, improvements and changes. Don't miss out by following all the latest news on X:


Please keep the feedback coming, as it helps us continue updating and fine-tuning the game as we inch closer to our 1.0 release. We'll be back with more news about our early access roadmap, updates and 1.0 soon!

Patch 0.18.605.r

[h2]GREEETINGS NEWSBEARERS! [/h2]



We’ve just rolled out a small but impactful patch to keep your newsroom running smoothly!



[h2]Improvements[/h2]

Improved estimation times for automated desks:

We have improved the estimation times displayed for automated desks. Timers now better reflect the actual remaining work time, even if an employee takes a break during item creation. Pneumatic tube setups will no longer throw off these estimates.

[h2]Bug Fixes[/h2]

Fixed “What a Mess” Introduction Issue:

Resolved a bug where the first introduction bullet could be skipped and cause a soft lock.

Fixed Chain Item Stalling in Long Tubes:

Chain items will no longer get stuck in pneumatic tubes in setups spanning 8+ floors. Even after reroutes or mid-transit saves.



That is it for now!

Thank you for all your feedback and reports, they help us fine-tune the game. We’re already hard at work on the next update and will share more news with you very soon.



Stay tuned!

Patch v0.18.601.r

[h2]Hellooo Newsbearers of the world! 🐻[/h2]

With the Going International update out, we've been closely following your feedback and making adjustments to improve your newsroom experience. This patch brings a mix of improvements and bug fixes to ensure your global expansion runs smoothly! Along with more natural employee behavior and fine-tuned mechanics, we’ve also added Steam Cloud Saves, so your progress stays with you wherever you go. Let’s dive into the details!

[h2]🛠️ Improvements[/h2]

  • Steam Cloud saves have been added.
  • Production employees now only help with the transportation of chain items that are supported by their assigned work station.
  • Added new Europe and Passive Desk traits to calendars throughout the game.
  • Tags on guides and quest pop-ups are now clickable, allowing you to sort the article side drawer.
  • The Popcorn Machine is now prestigious.
  • Floor construction prices have been lowered.


[h2]🐛 Bug Fixes[/h2]

  • Fixed the “Above the Fold” quest requirement, which was displaying x2 instead of x3. It now correctly shows x3, in line with the front-page top slot.
  • Fixed Travel Discounts that were not applying the correct 50% discount.
  • Fixed a bug where the South American continent lock was visible for a split second when navigating between Europe and North America.
  • Fixed a bug where some news items were prematurely removed from the globe before all potential story files were processed.
  • Fixed an issue where the Hiring Board icon in the main HUD continued to display the exclamation mark for new applicants even after opening the Hiring Board.
  • Fixed an issue where the soap bar could be placed on the wall on top of another object.
  • Fixed an issue in the newsbook where the employee tab overlapped the speech bubbles of assigned reporters.


Thank you for your continued feedback and support! Your insights help shape News Tower, so keep those reports coming.

Stay tuned for more breaking news!

Going International Update

Hello Newsbearers!



[h2]It's tiiime to expand overseas! [/h2]

The Going International update is here. Your newsroom now has access to European headlines via the Telegrapher, letting you cover stories from across the Atlantic.

And to speed up deliveries and make your tower run smoother than ever, we're also introducing the Pneumatic Tubes and the Dumbwaiters. Hopefully they help you keep up with the ever-growing demand for scoops!

This update wouldn't be possible without our incredible community testers, who helped us refine the experience ahead of launch. In the patch notes below, we have highlighted the additions and changes that were a direct result of your input, so you can see how impactful your contribution truly is. Thank you so much for taking part in the testing. ❤

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]



[h2]KEY ADDITIONS [/h2]

[h3]International News (Europe) [/h3]

Your tower now has the world at its fingertips! Europe has been introduced as a key region for international stories. To support this expansion, you can hire a dedicated telegrapher to relay news from across the continent with precision.
Additionally, new traits have been added to your employee roster, enhancing their ability to tackle the challenges of international journalism.

[h3]Dumbwaiter [/h3]

The dumbwaiter optimises resource management by facilitating the seamless transfer of coal, paper, food, and more between floors. By strategically selecting the floors where they are installed and ensuring a sufficient number of resuppliers, heavy crates can move from the pavement to their destination in no time!

[h3]Pneumatic Tubes [/h3]

This high-speed transport solution ensures reports and other production items can move swiftly between floors, regardless of distance. With this upgrade, your tower’s workflow will be smoother than ever, allowing you to place critical workstations wherever you see fit.


The tubes can significantly enhance the efficiency of your text and image production chain by directly connecting desks, even across different floors.
Instead of carrying items from one desk to another, climbing stairs, or waiting for the elevator, employees can send them straight to the next desk using the pneumatic tubes.

As a reminder, the flowchart illustrates the sequential steps of the production chain for text and images, from their source to the printer. Connect some of them with tubes - you'll thank us later!



[h2]IMPROVEMENTS[/h2]

[h3]Revamped transportation AI[/h3]

This overhaul ensures that your employees make smarter, more dynamic decisions to keep your operations running smoothly. This upgrade was essential to fully integrate the pneumatic tubes and dumbwaiter into your tower’s logistics, enabling your employees to cooperate, improving the efficiency of transport across all floors.

[h3]Employee List revamped to Staff Board[/h3]

The Staff Board makes employee management easier than ever. You can toggle jobs and skills, view the number of employees assigned to each role, and sort traits and skills efficiently. Expanded employee cards now provide detailed information at a glance.

[h3]New Employee Traits[/h3]

We’ve added a variety of traits tailored to automatic desks and foreign news. These include:

  • Policy Hawk: Adds one Quality Star to a Legislative Report.
  • Market Maven: Adds one Quality Star to a Stock Index.
  • Locker Room Insider: 50% chance of adding an Insider tag to Baseball Results.
  • Bloodhound: 50% chance of adding an Evidence tag to a Court Report.
  • Anointed Pen: Experience gained from working on Obituaries increased by 10%
  • Astrologist: Task speed on Horoscopes increased by 25% but has a 50% chance of adding a Lie.
  • Psychic: 25% chance of adding a Forecast tag to Horoscopes and 25% chance of unlocking the next story file within news.
  • Parisian Socialite: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Paris.
  • Berlin Observer: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Berlin.
  • London Insider: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in London.
  • Kremlin Confidant: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Moscow and Leningrad.
  • Roman Consul: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Rome.
  • Continental Connector: Increases research speed by 20% for all foreign news.
  • Polyglot: Opens up Language Barrier locks in news.
  • Diplomat: Opens up Diplomatic Route locks in news.

[h3]Tutors across 1931 [/h3]

To ensure players don’t miss out on important mechanics, we’ve introduced tutors across the 1931 timeline. These guides highlight key features, such as the Europe radio tower, dumbwaiter, pneumatic tubes, advertising systems, graphics processing chains, and the rush button.



[h2]Improvements with the help of the community [/h2]

[h3]Overhauled Europe Content Algorithm [/h3]

The Europe content algorithm has had a complete overhaul and is now completely separated from the rest of the content algorithm. This ensures that all necessary tags for districts or quests will always be available in North America, preventing the game from becoming more difficult when unlocking Europe.

[h3]Globe Filter Lights[/h3]

Globe filters help you prioritise your telegraphers’ efforts towards tags you need. Their lights will now have three states:
  • Solid green: The tag can be found on the currently displayed continent.
  • Blinking green: This newly added state indicates that the tag can be found on a different continent.
  • Red: The tag has been depleted from the pool for the current week.

[h3]Production employees can assist with transportation [/h3]

All production employees can now help with transportation—except the lawyer, who remains focused on lawsuits.

Employees will prioritise their own desk but are not restricted to it.

Preference is given to transporting items on the same floor or nearby, but this is not mandatory.

[h3]Smarter Pre-Transport Planning [/h3]

Production employees who are working on their last item can be considered for “pre transport” planning. This means they can already “reserve” bringing their item to the next desk in advance.
For example, this prevents situations where a distant resupplier is sent when it would have been faster for the employee to handle the task themselves.

[h3]Rebalanced Influence Cost in Newsbook [/h3]

Influence point requirements for the pay-up node in the Newsbook have been adjusted, now capping at 3 Influence Points instead of 10.



[h2]Other fixes made during the community test [/h2]

  • Certain cities in Europe now feature dedicated background maps.
  • Mutable Europe news placeholder text has been removed.
  • Reporters now begin moving sooner after being dropped off by the taxi in front of the tower.
  • Fixed a bug where graphic reporters would not assist with items if they’re assigned in the newsbook.
  • Elevator usage is slightly discouraged for resources. Making the dumbwaiter a little bit more likely to be used when they are close to each other.
  • Travel mode pricing changed: Boat: $50, Zeppelin: $150, Plane: $300
  • The travel discounts are not 50% instead of 25%. Note that for legacy save games which already have purchased this discount, unfortunately you are stuck with the 25%. However, you
will still benefit from the zeppelin and plane being cheaper overall.
  • Fixed a Mayor NPC quest asking for a Mafia tag instead of a Mayor tag
  • Reduced the “thinking” time when picking up an employee that was carrying an article.





[h2]MEET OTHER NEWSBEARERS![/h2]

Join the community! Talk with the dev team, share with other players, be a part of the journey to the 1.0 and beyond!

🌎 Come to our Discord



And to keep in touch with the latest news:

🌍 Follow us on Twitter


See you very soon in the Tower! Take care!

[h3]The News Tower Team[/h3]

Going International: Community Test

[h2]Good day, Newsbearers! [/h2]



How are your presses rolling?

We’re excited to invite you to participate in a Community Test for the "Going International" update! This is a great opportunity to get early access to the new features, help us fine-tune the game, and shape the future of News Tower. We want to ensure everything runs smoothly, feels great to play, and truly enhances your experience.




[h2]Key Additions[/h2]

[h3]International News: Europe[/h3]

Your tower now has the world at its fingertips! Europe has been introduced as a key region for international stories, with the years 1931 to 1935. To support this expansion, you can hire a dedicated telegrapher to relay news from across the continent with precision.
Additionally, new traits have been added to your employee roster, enhancing their ability to tackle the challenges of international journalism.

[h3]Pneumatic Tubes [/h3]

This high-speed transport solution ensures reports and other production items can move swiftly between floors, regardless of distance. With this upgrade, your tower’s workflow will be smoother than ever, allowing you to place critical workstations wherever you see fit.

[h3]Dumbwaiter [/h3]

The dumbwaiter optimises resource management by facilitating the seamless transfer of coal, paper, food, lawsuits and more between floors.



[h2]Improvements[/h2]

[h3]Revamped transportation AI[/h3]

This overhaul ensures that your employees make smarter, more dynamic decisions to keep your operations running smoothly. This upgrade was essential to fully integrate the pneumatic tubes and dumbwaiter into your tower’s logistics, enabling your employees to cooperate, improving the efficiency of transport across all floors.

Employee List is now revamped to Staff Board: The Staff Board makes employee management easier than ever. You can toggle jobs and skills, view the number of employees assigned to each role, and sort traits and skills efficiently. Expanded employee cards now provide detailed information at a glance.

[h3]New Employee Traits[/h3]

We’ve added a variety of traits tailored to automatic desks and foreign news. These include:
  • Policy Hawk: Adds one Quality Star to a Legislative Report.
  • Market Maven: Adds one Quality Star to a Stock Index.
  • Locker Room Insider: 50% chance of adding an Insider tag to Baseball Results.
  • Bloodhound: 50% chance of adding an Evidence tag to a Court Report.
  • Anointed Pen: Experience gained from working on Obituaries increased by 10%
  • Astrologist: Task speed on Horoscopes increased by 25% but has a 50% chance of adding a Lie.
  • Psychic: 25% chance of adding a Forecast tag to Horoscopes and 25% chance of unlocking the next story file within news.
  • Parisian Socialite: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Paris.
  • Berlin Observer: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Berlin.
  • London Insider: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in London.
  • Kremlin Confidant: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Moscow and Leningrad.
  • Roman Consul: 25% faster reporting times for stories that take place in Rome.
  • Continental Connector: Increases research speed by 20% for all foreign news.
  • Polyglot: Opens up Language Barrier locks in news.
  • Diplomat: Opens up Diplomatic Route locks in news.

[h3]Tutors across 1931[/h3]

To ensure players don’t miss out on important mechanics, we’ve introduced tutors across the 1931 timeline. These guides highlight key features, such as the Europe radio tower, dumbwaiter, pneumatic tubes, advertising systems, graphics processing chains, and the rush button.



[h2]How to Join the Community Test
[/h2]
Ready to jump in? Here’s how to access the Community Test Build on Steam:
  1. Open the Steam client.
  2. Click on the "Library" tab.
  3. Right-click on "News Tower" and select "Properties".
  4. Click on the "Betas" tab.
  5. In the "Beta participation" field, select "community_test".
  6. Click on the "Close" button.
  7. The game will now be updated to the "community_test" branch.


[h2]Share Your Feedback[/h2]

Join the Community Test Build channels on our Discord server to share your thoughts, report bugs, and discuss your experiences with other players and the dev team.

Your input is invaluable in making the "Going International" update the best it can be. We can’t wait to see what innovative layouts you come up with and how you adapt to the new systems.

Maybe we're repeating this a lot, but thank you! Thank you for being part of the News Tower community and for helping us shape the game’s future. You're an amazing lot.



Let’s make headlines together!