The first gameplay trailer for developer DRAMA’s tactical bodycam shooterUnrecordhas gamers divided over the game’s realistic visuals and police-centric storyline. The visually stunning shooter is one of many recently announcedUnreal Engine 5 gameswith a visual style designed to replicate footage from a camera.
The first clips ofUnrecordwere released in late 2022 before the game had an official title, making waves online as gamers debated whether the lifelike visuals on display were actually in-game or pre-rendered footage. Though little information about the game has been released so far, the FAQ forUnrecordeddescribes it as a “narrative game that takes inspiration from realistic FPS games.” While it’s unsurprising to see games like the policetactical shooterReady or Notlisted as one ofUnrecord’s influences based on the footage released to date, the developers also cite the critically acclaimed Campo Santo narrative adventure title,Firewatch,as a key influence.
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Just over 6 months after the first footage of theUnreal Engine 5game caused a stir online a gameplay trailer forUnrecordhas been posted to Twitter by developer Alexandre Spindler, giving gamers a better look at what they can expect from the unique tactical shooter. The short trailer opens with an officer walking towards a derelict building, checking their weapon before heading inside to track down a suspect. The startlingly lifelike gameplay footage shows the officer killing several suspects as they work their way through the building before reaching what looks like an interrogation segment that is quickly cut off by a trailer-ending explosion. The trailer is visually stunning throughout, with high-quality lighting and textures that sometimes make it nearly indistinguishable from real camera footage.
Responses to the realistic gameplay footage were decidedly mixed, with responses split between those awed by the stunning visuals and others who felt troubled by the content of the game. Several responses complimented the developers on what they’ve been able to achieve with the game’s graphics even at this early stage, with one comment stating that “the fact this isn’t recorded footage is mind-boggling.” Other users were uncomfortable with the game’s subject matter, callingUnrecordan “unironic copaganda Liveleak simulator.” Another comment stated that they enjoy games as an escape from a world where “we see posts every single day of people just getting ended from this perspective,” adding that they don’t want to be the perpetrator of such acts.
While the visuals inUnrecordare undoubtedly impressive, releasing a bodycam-style shooter at a time when real-world bodycam footage of police ending the lives of civilians is a mainstay of the nightly news is likely to be seen as highly problematic by many gamers. It remains to be seen whether the real-world controversies around policing in America will impactUnrecord’s sales upon release, but, judging from responses to the trailer, it’s clear that some players would prefer to avoid stepping into the shoes ofpolice in video gamesif given the choice.
Unrecordis in development for PC
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