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Detention Center
March 6, 2026 at 03:19 PM
Add internal wiki links (expanded term dictionary + heading links)
The Detention Center is a fully realized facility in Hethereau where players are sent after being apprehended by law enforcement. Rather than simply respawning or showing a black screen time-skip after being caught, NTE transports players to this interactive location where they change into a prison outfit, serve time, and participate in a variety of activities. The Detention Center was introduced as a fully functional system during the Co-Ex Test (February 2026) and exemplifies Hotta Studio's design philosophy of turning what could be a punishment into engaging gameplay content.
Players can accumulate wanted stars by committing crimes throughout Hethereau. The system works similarly to the wanted levels in Grand Theft Auto, with escalating law enforcement responses based on the severity of criminal activity.
Crime | Description |
|---|---|
Attacking civilians | Using weapons against passersby in the streets. NPCs cannot actually be killed; they always dodge or flee. |
Vehicle theft | Forcibly taking vehicles from NPCs. The game calls this "forceful requisition," though it is functionally robbery. |
Running over NPCs | Hitting pedestrians with vehicles while driving recklessly through the city. |
Shoplifting | Stealing items from shops throughout Hethereau. |
Property damage | Destroying objects, structures, or causing general environmental damage. |
Dangerous driving | Reckless vehicle operation, crashing into obstacles, and causing traffic chaos. |
As an Appraiser working adjacent to the Bureau of Anomaly Control (BAC), the player can request that civilians surrender their vehicles. The peaceful method involves flashing your BAC badge, after which the NPC may voluntarily hand over their car. The forceful method involves attacking the NPC and taking the vehicle by force. Only the forceful method triggers wanted stars.
Players can reach up to three wanted stars through criminal activity. As the wanted level increases, the law enforcement response escalates dramatically.
Wanted Level | Response |
|---|---|
1 Star | Police officers and patrol cars respond. Low-intensity pursuit. |
2 Stars | More serious forces join the pursuit. Multiple units converge on the player's location. |
3 Stars | Full escalation. Drones fly overhead and target players with bombs. Law enforcement shoots to incapacitate. |
Police will actively pursue the player through the city in vehicle chases. Players must either outdrive the police or ultimately surrender. If the player is defeated ("blown up or gunned down"), they are transported to the Detention Center.
When captured by law enforcement, the player character is transported to the Detention Center. Upon arrival, several things happen immediately:
The player character changes into a prison robe.
A hefty fine is levied in Beetle Coins (in-game currency).
The player must spend several in-game days behind bars.
The facility operates on its own daily schedule with timed activities.
The Detention Center is designed as a fully interactive hub, not just a penalty screen. Players can engage with a variety of activities during their stay.
Activity | Description |
|---|---|
Wall Washing | Clean dirt off walls using a power washer in a manner compared to PowerWash Simulator. Described by reviewers as "surprisingly engaging." |
Dining Room | Visit the prison dining room to eat meals. Also serves as the location where players can steal a spoon for escape attempts. |
Various mini-games are available within the facility to pass the time. | |
Trading | Commerce with other prisoners and facility traders. |
Doctor Visits | Visit the medical facility within the detention center. |
Community Service | Work off your debt to society through labor, which can reduce your remaining sentence. |
There are multiple ways to leave the Detention Center:
Serve your time: Spend several in-game days completing activities and following the detention center schedule until your sentence is complete.
Work to repay debt: Perform community service labor within the facility to pay off your fine and earn early release.
Pay bail: For players who do not want to spend time in prison, an option for early release on bail is available using in-game currency.
Break out: Attempt a daring jailbreak using one of several escape routes (see Escape Mechanics below).
NTE allows players to attempt jailbreaks from the Detention Center. The facility has multiple escape routes, and the developers have confirmed that the full release will include even more methods beyond what was available in beta testing.
Spoon Tunnel: Players can steal a spoon from the dining room and use it to dig an escape tunnel. This must be done covertly to avoid detection by patrolling guards.
Multiple additional escape routes exist throughout the facility, though detailed information on all methods has not yet been fully revealed.
Guards actively patrol the facility and will catch players attempting unauthorized escape activities. Timing and stealth are essential for a successful breakout.
The Detention Center features its own unique reward system:
Prison Outfit: Players can unlock the prison robe as a permanent cosmetic for their character.
The facility has its own dedicated traders who sell items not available elsewhere.
Completing activities and community service within the center contributes to progression rewards.
The law enforcement that patrols Hethereau operates as part of the city's public security apparatus, referred to as "pubsec" in some contexts. This security force works alongside or under the broader Bureau of Anomaly Control framework. The BAC is the primary organization in Hethereau responsible for Anomaly and Esper management. Key BAC personnel include Baicang (Captain of ETD-4) and Mint (a rising star in Containment Unit 2).
The irony of the Detention Center is that the player character, as an Appraiser and unlicensed Anomaly Hunter, works adjacent to the very organization whose security forces can arrest them. This creates a unique narrative tension where breaking the law puts the player at odds with allies they regularly cooperate with on High-Risk Commissions and anomaly investigations.
Neverness to Everness launches on April 29, 2026. The Detention Center was introduced during the Co-Ex Test beta (February 2026). Hotta Studio has confirmed that the full release will include more escape methods, jobs, and rewards within the prison system. Details are subject to change at launch.
