Channel 453 is preparing to expand into Japan, with Bulhwa’s Japanese/Korean account confirming further localization work for the gothic psychological horror otome visual novel.
A new Japanese promotional video and localized Japanese Steam page are scheduled for August 12, 2026. The announcement does not represent the game’s release date, which remains unannounced.
Quick Summary
- Title: Channel 453
- Format: visual novel
- Genres: psychological thriller, gothic horror, otome, and romance
- Developer: Bulhwa
- Publisher: Bulhwa
- Status: in development
- Current project: full remake
- Japanese version: in development
- New Japanese PV: August 12, 2026
- Japanese Steam page: planned for August 12, 2026
- Japanese wishlist promotion: begins alongside the new page
- Full release date: not announced
- Steam price: not announced
- Steam platforms: Windows and macOS
- Steam demo: available
- Current Steam language: English
- Final Japanese-language support: not yet reflected on the current store listing
- Version 1.0 playtime: approximately 60–90 minutes
- Endings: 3
- CG illustrations: 6, with more planned
- Protagonist: female
- Protagonist appearance: intentionally hidden
- Featured character: Liotte
- Premise: a man inside a television begins talking directly to the player
- Themes: trust, anxiety, obsession, loneliness, and “true love”
- Content warnings: psychological tension, glitch effects, jump scares, and obsession
- Older version: still separately available through itch.io
- Old and remake versions: treated as distinct releases
Japanese Announcement, Steam, and Game Visuals
Japanese PV and Steam Page Arrive August 12
Bulhwa has increased promotional activity around Channel 453 for Japanese players in August 2026.
The latest announcement sets August 12 for the release of a new Japanese-language PV. A Japanese Steam page is also expected to go live on the same day.
Recent Japanese promotional material describes the premise with a simple hook: the men inside the television begin speaking to you.
Another post presents the title as a gothic psychological horror otome game in which encounters through a strange broadcast gradually destabilize reality.
August 12 is not the release date. The global Steam listing continues to show Coming soon, and Bulhwa has not announced when the complete remake will launch.
A Man Inside the Television Knows You
Channel 453 begins with a television and a mysterious man named Liotte.
He exists on the other side of the screen, yet addresses the protagonist as though he has been waiting specifically for her.
The increasingly personal interaction raises questions about how much Liotte knows and whether his apparent kindness can still be trusted.
Steam describes Channel 453 as a one-on-one interactive visual novel examining trust, anxiety, obsession, and the meaning of “true love.”
The protagonist is explicitly female, but her appearance is intentionally hidden. Characters generally address her as “you,” reinforcing the feeling that the person watching the screen is directly involved.
A Full Remake Rather Than a Simple Port
An earlier version of Channel 453 was previously released through itch.io.
Bulhwa later confirmed that a full-scale remake had entered active development.
The developer specifically identified improvements to:
- visuals
- sound
- story depth
- presentation
- overall user experience
Bulhwa also emphasized that the Steam project is not simply the older build transferred to another storefront.
As a result, the remake’s screenshots, character presentation, interface, dialogue, and narrative structure may differ from the older itch.io edition.
The older release remains separately accessible while development continues on the remake.
Three Endings and a 60–90 Minute Runtime
The current Steam listing estimates a 60–90 minute runtime for Version 1.0.
The remake is designed as a compact visual novel with three endings determined through the player’s interactions and choices.
Steam currently lists six CG illustrations and notes that additional material is planned.
The experience combines romance with psychological thriller and horror elements rather than treating the relationship as a conventional dating story.
Content warnings specifically mention psychological tension, glitch effects, jump scares, and themes of obsession.
A Steam Demo Is Already Available
Although the complete game remains unreleased, a Channel 453 demo can currently be downloaded from Steam.
The store page lists Windows and macOS support. On Windows, the minimum requirements include a 64-bit version of Windows 10, 4 GB RAM, and approximately 2 GB of storage.
The macOS edition supports both Intel processors and Apple Silicon.
At the time of the Japanese-version announcement, the public Steam language table still lists only English for interface and subtitles.
The Japanese page scheduled for August 12 should provide a clearer picture of the localization, although Bulhwa has not confirmed whether a Japanese demo will become available on that date.
Several Details Remain Unannounced
Bulhwa has yet to disclose several important details, including:
- the remake’s release date
- price
- Japanese release timing
- whether Japanese launches simultaneously with the complete version
- full localization scope
- possible voice acting
- complete character lineup
- additional CG count
- Japanese demo availability
The upcoming Japanese PV should therefore become the next major source of information about the localized presentation.
Why This Matters
1) Horror is built around an unusually personal conversation
Rather than relying entirely on monsters or physical threats, Channel 453 creates discomfort through someone who seems to know the player too well.
2) The television concept plays with the boundary of the screen
Liotte is supposed to exist inside a broadcast, yet communicates as though he knows someone is watching him.
3) The remake extends beyond graphical upgrades
Bulhwa has identified story, audio, and user experience as major parts of the redevelopment.
4) Japanese localization opens a new audience
A dedicated PV and Steam page mark a notable expansion for an indie project that has primarily been presented in English.
Game Information
The important details currently known are:
- Channel 453 is developed and published by Bulhwa
- it is a psychological horror otome visual novel
- the player encounters Liotte through a mysterious television
- the protagonist is female
- her appearance is deliberately hidden
- its story examines trust, anxiety, obsession, and love
- the current project is a full remake
- visuals, audio, story depth, and user experience are being reworked
- a Japanese PV launches on August 12, 2026
- a Japanese Steam page is planned for the same day
- the complete release date remains unknown
- Steam currently lists Windows and macOS
- a playable demo is available
- Version 1.0 is expected to last approximately 60–90 minutes
- three endings are planned
- six CG illustrations are currently listed, with more planned
- the current Steam listing only shows English language support
- final Japanese support awaits further confirmation
- the game is available to wishlist through the official Steam page
- the older release and development logs are available through Channel 453 on itch.io
- Japanese updates are published through Bulhwa _ JP/KR on X
Closing
Channel 453 is preparing its next localization step with a Japanese PV and Japanese Steam page arriving on August 12, 2026.
The complete remake still has no release date. Players can currently wishlist the game and try its Steam demo while waiting for further details about its launch and Japanese-language implementation.
- Bulhwa JP/KR X — New Japanese PV and Japanese Steam Page Scheduled for August 12
- Bulhwa JP/KR X — Japanese Introduction to Channel 453 and Its Gothic Psychological Horror Concept
- Steam — Official Story, Platforms, Demo, Playtime, Endings, CG Count, and Content Warnings
- Bulhwa itch.io — Original Version, Remake Status, Platforms, and Development History
- Bulhwa Devlog — Full Remake Development and Planned Steam Release
- Bulhwa Devlog — Official English Steam Page Launch and Wishlist Announcement
