Static Hour is an upcoming narrative simulation game that casts players as a night shift news editor in a small American town gripped by mysterious, unexplained violence during the 1980s. Developed by Barkbyte Interactive, founded by lawyer Claire Sarmiento, the game explores themes of media influence and misinformation, asking players to gather evidence and decide what to broadcast to a public that will act on the information given. Its premise resonates as a commentary on the power (and responsibility) once held by singular local news sources, contrasted with today's fragmented, algorithm-driven media landscape.

Set during a government lockdown, players must piece together the truth behind reports of family attacks, amnesia outbreaks and overwhelmed hospitals by using a rolodex of contacts, directing reporters, and scanning radio frequencies to separate fact from rumour. The game raises questions about whether the player is informing the public or inciting panic, and whether that panic might be deliberate. Static Hour is slated for release in the third quarter of 2027 and is currently listed on Steam.