Tencent Invests in Unrecord, Indie Game Notorious for Realism

Tencent Bolsters Unrecord Development with Investment in Drama Studios for Hyperrealistic First-Person Shooter

French studio Drama Studios, creator of the first-person shooter Unrecord, announced that it received an investment from Tencent to expedite the game's development. Unrecord initially went viral in 2023 after a trailer showcasing hyperrealistic scenes accumulated nearly 40 million views in less than 20 hours. The value of Tencent's investment in Drama Studios was not disclosed. However, the studio plans to use the funding to expand its team and accelerate full production of Unrecord, which currently sits at number 9 on Steam's wishlist charts. Drama Studios is committed to delivering a first-person shooter with hyperrealism, immersive gameplay, and an engaging narrative. The studio plans to release project updates in 2026. The realism of the initial trailer, presented from a first-person police perspective, sparked debates about whether the scenes displayed actual gameplay and if such realism would necessitate censorship. To address these concerns, Drama Studios released a video proving that the trailer's scenes were indeed from gameplay. The studio has not released new videos since then, but a new image was unveiled alongside the Tencent investment news.

Tencent's Investment Empowers Drama Studios to Realize Unrecord's Full Potential

Drama Studios CEO Theo Hiribarne stated, "Following the great interest generated by our initial trailer, we have been working tirelessly to create a game that meets the expectations of our community." Hiribarne added, "At Tencent, we found not just a world-class partner but a genuinely passionate team about our game and vision. Despite its scale, Tencent approached this partnership with humility, respect, and true appreciation for our creative identity. They believed in Unrecord from the start and supported us throughout all stages of our growth. We are confident that this collaboration will help us reach our full potential." Mark Maslowicz, Vice President of Partnerships at Tencent, said, "Tencent deeply believes in creative talent. We've been consistently impressed by Drama Studios' motivation and dynamism, as well as the notable progress Unrecord has made with such a small team and limited resources." Maslowicz continued, "This investment will help the studio unlock its full potential and deliver the first of many exceptional games. We're excited to be part of Drama Studios' journey."

Tencent's Advice Aids Funcom and Techland, Yet Investment Focused on Drama Studios for Unrecord Development

Tencent's $10 billion in revenue last year is unrelated to its investment in Unrecord's development. While Funcom and Techland, developer of Dying Light: The Beast, have reportedly benefited from Tencent's advice, neither studio received investments like Drama Studios.