The Operator

The Operator is an investigation and conspiracy adventure from Bureau 81. Players take on the role of Evan Tanner, a new operator at the fictional Federal Department of Intelligence. Instead of visiting crime scenes themselves, Tanner supports field agents from the screen and analyzes digital evidence.

The PC version of The Operator was released on Jul 22, 2024. Native versions for iPhone, iPad and Android followed on Oct 1, 2026. The full investigative thriller is now also available on mobile devices.

The Operator is available for PC, iOS/iPadOS and Android. According to the App Store, the mobile version supports compatible controllers and is designed for iPhone and iPad.

Cases are solved through a virtual workstation. Tanner receives calls from field agents, checks documents and cross-references information from different sources. Instead of classic action, the gameplay consists of research, conclusions and working out which clues connect.

The FDI toolkit includes video and photo analysis, citizen and vehicle databases, ChemScan, a notepad and a terminal. The systems are combined within cases to identify people, examine images and uncover contradictions in the investigation files.

Individual murder, missing person and cybercrime cases develop into one connected conspiracy. A central role is played by the wanted cybercriminal HAL. The game therefore combines investigative work that feels episodic with an overarching story, where new information can cast earlier cases in a different light.

Bureau 81 developed The Operator and also lists the game on mobile stores as a seller. The original PC version was published by Bureau 81 and indienova.