The funding will be used to strengthen the core development team and advance the game to a solid demo state. Following this, the studio will explore publishing and strategic partnership opportunities.
The Story of Drama Studios
The story of Drama Studios is a great example of how a gaming community can turn a small indie team into a global sensation. The game first captured the world’s attention with a Unrecord gameplay trailer showcasing a hyper-realistic, body-cam footage that stood out from typical FPS games.
Within the first week, the video went viral, amassing an astonishing 11 million views on IGN channel alone and 80 million views on x.com. The buzz continued to grow, catching the attention of top influencers and media outlets, as the trailer garnered over 500 million views across multiple platforms worldwide.
The trailer’s realism sparked a wave of concern and speculation – was this really a game, or actual video footage?
They added that what the world had seen was just a small piece of what was in development, further fueling anticipation.
What set “Unrecord” apart, beyond its technical advancements, was its distinctly European vibe and off-the-Hollywood aesthetics in every aspect of the game. This fresh perspective resonated with players and critics alike, offering something genuinely new in a market saturated with similar themes and styles.
In just two months, “Unrecord” became one of the 10 most wishlisted games on Steam, surpassing established IPs, which is a remarkable achievement for a first project. The hype was further fueled by the emergence of many “Unrecord”-inspired games, each attempting to capture a piece of its viral magic.
A year later, “Unrecord” has consolidated its spot in the top wishlisted games list, attracting millions of players to follow the project closely.
As Drama Studios began making waves in the gaming community, they attracted attention from the world’s biggest publishers, strategic game companies, and venture funds. However, the team decided to partner with a boutique VC The Games Fund as their first investor.
They chose TGF not only for their industry expertise but also because of their aligned values and vision for the games industry. This alignment made The Games Fund the ideal partner to support Drama Studios in bringing their groundbreaking ideas to life.
Founding Drama Studios
The story of DRAMA Studios is rather unusual. Before founding Drama, Théo, known as Foda C, was a key figure in the French music scene. His music videos amassed over 200 million views on YouTube, with multiple tracks reaching tens of millions of plays.
Their album “Adieu bientôt” debuted at number one on the French Albums Chart and achieved platinum status and the band performed sold-out concerts across France, including at iconic venues like L’Olympia.
His ability to blend artistic vision with business strategy laid the foundation for his transition into the world of video games with Drama Studios.
After a successful career in music and show business, Théo decided to pivot to the gaming industry, driven by his passion for innovative entertainment. He invested his own capital and teamed up with exceptionally talented partners Alexandre Spindler and Corentin ‘Dash’ Hery.
Together, they dove into learning Unreal Engine and began working on various game prototypes. Over four years, the studio developed multiple prototypes and concepts, refining their skills and vision.
Eventually, they discovered a concept that they believed would be a breakthrough in gaming, leading to the creation of Drama Studios and the viral success of their debut game, “Unrecord.”
Unrecord: The Debut Game
“Unrecord” is a single-player PC/Console action-adventure tactical shooter that stands out with its revolutionary body-cam aesthetic, offering a uniquely immersive experience. It delivers compelling gameplay and a thrilling narrative in which players take on the role of a law enforcement officer battling crime in a harsh, unforgiving world.
“We at DRAMA, aim to deliver landmark games with strong creative and technological outputs. We represent a new generation of developers mastering Unreal Engine, enabling an easier way to reach AAA game quality faster and at a lower cost.
Our goal is to create unique experiences by blending artistic craftsmanship with the appeal of blockbuster hits. We believe this is achievable by listening to the community and consistently striving for high-quality unique games.
In a gaming industry at a pivotal moment, we share with The Games Fund a vision of the future rooted in confidence, sustainability and high-value entertainment. We are dedicated to hitting the market soon, with a strong product that fans can enjoy for years to come.”
Theo, DRAMA Studios founder and CEO.
“Just like other millions of gamers, we were blown away when we saw that gameplay video, but what truly amazed us is that the game plays better than it looks in video.
A few people understand that, but while most companies who tried to copy Unrecord focus solely on the bodycam aesthetics, the Unrecord aims way beyond visuals.
Bodycam visual is the tip of the iceberg, while innovative gameplay mechanics with advanced AI models, a unique shooting system, and a living world with complex characters are the true core of the game.”
Ilia Eremeev, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Games Fund
About Drama Studios
DRAMA STUDIOS is a video game development studio based in Rennes (Brittany, France). It is fully remote and went from a team of 3 to 10 people over 12 months, with plans to grow to around 20 by the end of the year.
About The Games Fund
The Games Fund (TGF) is the leading gaming VC fund with offices in New York and Cyprus, investing in innovative early-stage games and game tech companies. TGF was founded by games industry veterans, holds the largest gaming portfolio in Eastern Europe and Cyprus, and is recognized as one of the TOP early-stage gaming investors by Investgame.net and Drakestar partners.
