A new gameplay trailer featuring the realistic shooter Unrecord has been released by its developers

French indie developer Alexandre Spindler shared a "bodycam style" first-person shooter (FPS) video on Twitter last year. The recording, executed in an incredibly photorealistic style, was retweeted over 35,000 times, including by renowned filmmaker Neil Blomkamp. However, no other details were known about it until now.

Today, Spindler finally unveiled his game - Unrecord. It's a tactical shooter with "complex dialogues, innovative gameplay mechanics, intricate moral dilemmas, and a unique shooting system," as stated on the game's Steam page. The page also features a new trailer.

Unexpectedly, the story takes center stage in the game. "Players will investigate several criminal cases and encounter various characters," the description of Unrecord says. "The storyline and presentation of the game will be the central element of gameplay, with numerous gameplay situations and plot twists awaiting players." The developer also describes the game's plot as a "detective novel or thriller."

However, the most noticeable and possibly even repulsive feature of Unrecord is its photorealistic "bodycam" style. Usually associated with military and police operations, this type of footage has also become associated with evidence of military and police brutality and killings, especially in recent times. In Unrecord, the player takes on the role of a police officer.

One technique that creates the impression of a real camera recording is the free movement of the character's hands. According to the developer, this is achieved through an "original aiming system" that allows the player to "move their hands freely." To maintain the illusion of reality, lens distortion, video effects (such as interlacing, glares, pixelated faces) as if the video was censored, and natural surroundings are also used. All of these elements combined create a deceptively realistic effect. However, the developer states that Unrecord does not claim to be a realistic simulation.

"Unrecord is a narrative game inspired by realistic FPS games," reads the frequently asked questions on the game's official website. "It can be described as a mix of Firewatch and Ready Or Not. Realism is an integral part of the game's universe, but it is not an obsession, so Unrecord will not be a simulation game."

Considering the mention of video recording in the game's title (or rather, erasing the recording) and the statement that "presentation will be a central element" of the entire experience, it can be assumed that we do not yet know the full story of Unrecord.