Night School Studio has teased a mysterious new setting in Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. The upcoming indie title is the sequel to supernatural thriller Oxenfree.
In 2016, Night School Studio released Oxenfree to critical acclaim. Inspired by coming-of-age films and shows from the ’80s, Oxenfree follows Alex, a rebellious teenager, and her group of friends as they explore Edwards Island and open a ghostly rift. Featuring 2.5D art by illustrator Heather Gross, Oxenfree received the Excellence in Visual Art Award at the 2016 Independent Games Festival, where it was also an Honorable Mention for Excellence in Narrative, Excellence in Audio, and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Oxenfree is currently available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.
Night School Studio shared the Oxenfree II: Lost Signals update in a Steam announcement and on social media, linking the developer’s official blog. In the update, Game Director Bryant Cannon celebrates the seventh anniversary of Oxenfree’s launch and confirms that Oxenfree II: Lost Signals will arrive later this year. Cannon unveils a new screenshot from the sequel, featuring a large and ominous building identified as the North Camena Community Center. The space is used as a church and base for Parentage, a group that emits strange, cult-like radio messages.
While players will potentially have to wait several months until the release of Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, some information about the game is already available on its Steam page. The Oxenfree sequel is set five years after the original, centering on a protagonist named Riley Poverly. Drawn by the mystery of electromagnetic interference disrupting planes, TVs, and radios, Riley returns to her hometown of Camena. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals includes a new walkie-talkie feature that allows Riley to communicate with contacts from anywhere. As in Oxenfree, the player’s dialogue choices will shape the narrative and impact the ending.
The update also shares that Night School Studio is hosting a Community Survey Sweepstakes, available until January 30 at 12 pm PT. The developer will randomly select five survey respondents to receive surprise gifts. Community members based in the United States and at least 18 years old are eligible to participate in the survey. The official rules can be viewed on the Night School Studio website.
Cannon concludes the blog post urging fans to stay tuned for more updates via social media. “We read every message and I can’t tell you how much it means to us when we do hear from you,” Cannon said. “It’s one of the best parts of our day.”