Bodycam release date: 'Ultra-realistic' multiplayer shooter has Call of Duty in its sights

Bodycam, a new game that went viral because of its gritty, ultra-realistic visuals, seems tailor-made for players who pine for the good old days of Call of Duty.

With its back-to-basics multiplayer modes and visceral gunplay, the PC title appears to be the antithesis of modern, free-to-play games. You can’t play dress-up as Iron Man or Snoop Dogg here, folks.

Instead, it comes off as a straight-up shooter with a major hook: the first-person action looks as though it was captured through a wearable camera, the type worn by police officers on duty.

To pull off the effect, Bodycam’s fresh-faced developers (a pair of teens from France) used the latest in game development tech, the Unreal Engine 5. Just a handful of games built on the powerful software program have been released, putting Bodycam in an exclusive club.

So, when can you play it? Here’s what you need to know about Bodycam.

What is Bodycam?

Bodycam is a multiplayer, first-person shooter (FPS) game for PC that features almost photo-realistic graphics. The game went viral after online game streamers caught wind of it. YouTube channel jackfrags’ preview video of the game has racked up more than four million views alone, while controversial Kick streamer Jon Zherka branded it “the greatest innovation in FPS history”.

Most of the attention has focused on the game’s true-to-life visuals and authentic gameplay. The developers created its stark, minimalist interiors and natural lighting using the Unreal Engine 5, a set of software tools that can produce more convincing interactive worlds using smooth animation and light that bounces off objects.

Thus far, however, the software has largely been used to create smaller experiences that show off its capabilities. Therefore, it’s unclear just how much of a fully fledged game Bodycam will be.

Nevertheless, the previews have shown a series of weapons, among them a Scar assault rifle, which is a mainstay of shooters including the Call of Duty series, a shotgun, and a pistol. The maps we’ve seen thus far include an oil rig, a training range, and a forest – while the competitive modes include death match for up to 10 players, 5v5 team deathmatch, and 5v5 body bomb.

However, the developers boast that it is not a simulation in the vein of Call of Duty and other military games. Hence, it’s biggest competitors may be more tactical, team-based shooters like eSports favourite Counter-Strike and recent release Gray Zone Warfare.

When is Bodycam coming out?

Bodycam is releasing in early access on Steam later today (June 7) at 10pm UK time, according to the game’s website.