From Press Release:
July 22, 2026 – The award-winning Berlin-based development studio Paintbucket Games and the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) have released the first trailer for their recently announced project, SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force. In this historical-political deduction game, players take charge of a special police task force in the Federal Republic of Germany of the 1970s and experience procedurally generated investigative stories featuring a variety of challenges. The game condenses fictionalized, plausible scenarios based on real historical events into an intense setting where every decision has consequences.
The trailer offers a first glimpse into the real historical events of 1977 that inspired the game’s setting. In addition, we enter the office of the special unit in Cologne – which is at the center of the events in SOKO 1977 – for the first time, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the game’s atmosphere. In a time of political tensions, social upheaval, and escalating conflicts, it is the special unit’s task to uncover left-wing terrorist networks, identify suspects, and coordinate operations. Against this complex and novel setting, players are confronted with questions that remain relevant to this day.
SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force will be released in early 2027 and can now be wishlisted on Steam.
During this year’s gamescom, interested players will be able to try out SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force for the first time at the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2.
More information is available on the official website.
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About Paintbucket Games
Paintbucket Games is a multi-award-winning indie studio based in Berlin, founded in 2018 by former AAA developers Jörg Friedrich and Sebastian St. Schulz. The studio’s goal is to create games that explore political themes, memory culture, and socially sensitive topics while leaving a lasting impression. Following the award-winning debut title Through the Darkest of Times, in which players coordinate a civilian resistance group in Nazi-era Berlin, the studio developed The Darkest Files, which explores the legal investigation of Nazi crimes in postwar Germany. For The Darkest Files, Paintbucket Games received the German Computergame Award 2026 for “Best German Game” and “Best Serious Game.” The team is currently working on SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force as well as other projects.
More information about Paintbucket Games can be found on the official website, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Facebook and TikTok. Interested players can chat with the team on Discord.
About the Federal Agency for Civic Education/bpb
The work done by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb) centers on promoting awareness for democracy and participation in politics. It takes on topical and historical subjects by issuing publications, by organizing seminars, events, study trips, exhibitions and competitions, by providing extension training for journalists and by offering films and online products. The broad range of educational activities provided by the bpb is designed to motivate people and enable them to give critical thought to political and social issues and play an active part in political life.
More information about the bpb can be found on the official website, on Instagram and LinkedIn.
