What is the Bodycam release date? Just when you thought you’ve seen it all in the FPS genre, now and then a new game comes around to remind you that there’s more to be discovered. The idea of a shooter that takes place from the perspective of a body camera isn’t entirely new, but this is the first time players have had a chance to go hands-on with this type of game.
When Unrecord, the first game to use the body cam perspective, people were quick to point out that the footage might be fake due to its lifelike visuals. Unlike Unrecord, Bodycam was first shown off to the public with an early access test, so we know for a fact that it’s real. Built using Unreal Engine 5, this highly realistic FPS game gives players a new perspective to experience gun combat. Here’s what you need to know about the Bodycam release date, including the latest on the gameplay and when to expect the next early access playtest.
Bodycam release date estimate
Bodycam currently doesn’t have a release date, but we estimate that it will launch around Q4 2024. While Reissad Studio, the developers behind Bodycam, hasn’t published a roadmap yet, it’s clear from the early release playtest that the game is already in decent shape.
There’s currently no indication to suggest that Bodycam is going to be anything other than a multiplayer game. If that remains the case, Bodycam appears to be almost ready for an early access release. We’ve seen FPS games launch in a much worse state than this, though the game’s unique camera perspective may cause some discomfort, especially to those who suffer from motion sickness.
Again, while nothing has been confirmed by the devs, there’s no reason why Bodycam couldn’t make its way onto consoles. Though the way players aim weapons in Bodycam works differently from traditional first-person shooters, the controls aren’t complicated enough that they can’t be translated to dual analog sticks. We expect to hear more about the PC development process before we hear anything about Bodycam making its way onto PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Bodycam gameplay
Described by the devs as a game “designed to push the limits of realism and photorealism”, Bodycam tries to simulate real-life combat by making every gunshot lethal when landing headshots. Bodycam uses a minimal HUD, with the only visible elements being the thing green borders around each of your teammates, as well as their blurred-out faces similar to CCTV footage.
There are currently two game modes on offer: Team Deathmatch and Deathmatch. Team Deathmatch is a 6v6 mode featuring friendly fire and different weapons for each player every round. The team that scores ten rounds first wins the game. Dying in Team Deathmatch gives you access to a drone to wander around the map, but it can be shot down. Once your drone becomes inactive, you can cycle through the remaining players on your team through the cameras on their helmets.
Deathmatch is a free-for-all between six players, with each player spawning with a different weapon. Unlike Team Deathmatch, you automatically respawn when someone kills you. The player that reaches a certain amount of kills wins the game. Both game modes have access to the same batch of maps, despite the difference in player count.
Due to the nature of the bodycam perspective, your mouse controls where your weapon is pointed. This allows you to peek around corners without having to expose yourself to any gunfire. Moving your guns toward the edge of the screen turns the camera, so you can’t sprint through rooms without sacrificing your ability to aim at enemies. You also won’t know if you’ve landed a kill unless you inspect the body, or you wait until the round ends.
Like most competitive FPS games, paying close attention to audio and visual cues is essential to get the upper hand on your enemy. Lighting plays a large role in Bodycam as some maps feature limited light sources, forcing players to utilize their flashlights. Turning your flashlight on immediately gives away your position, but if you decide to stay in the dark, you won’t be able to see a thing. Similarly, the game is completely silent when standing still. Players should avoid sprinting as footsteps can be heard from a distance.
Bodycam early access playtest
The first Bodycam early access playtest took place between January 21 – January 22. To get a chance to play Bodycam early, players had to register their interest on the day the playtest began using Steam’s playtest feature. It’s unclear when the next Bodycam early access playtest is going to take place, but the devs will want to capitalize on the game’s recent burst of popularity sooner rather than later. The first playtest was titled ‘Early Access Playtest #1’, so there’s certainly more coming down the pipeline.
Bodycam roadmap
The devs have promised on Bodycam’s Steam page that a roadmap of content is coming soon, but they haven’t posted anything to the page since January 27 when they encouraged fans to join their Discord channel. There’s a strong possibility that the roadmap will arrive with the announcement of the second early access playtest. The Bodycam roadmap will likely contain additional game modes, new weapons, and potentially the release date of the game.
That’s all the information there is about the Bodycam release date. Don’t forget to check out our Unrecord release date guide if you want to see how development is going on Bodycam’s rival. If you’re into realistic games, we have a list of the best simulation games on PC, from the scientifically accurate Kerbal Space Program to the pilot-tested Microsoft Flight Simulator to truly flex your brain muscles. Finally, check out our list of the best upcoming games to see what else you can expect from 2024.