DEFECT gameplay reveal trailers, screenshots
First in-game look at the cyberpunk first-person shooter.
emptyvessel has released a pair of gameplay reveal trailers and new screenshots for cyberpunk first-person shooter DEFECT.
“Our entire emptyvessel team is incredibly excited to show off this first look at gameplay in DEFECT as we’ve poured a ton of passion and time into crafting the game’s tone, atmosphere, and underlying systems,” said emptyvessel founder and game director Emanuel Palalic in a press release. “DEFECT is a HUD-less immersive shooter where any wall can be destroyed, gadgets and tools completely redefine how you approach combat, and every weapon or ammo type affects the world, interactables, and enemies in unique ways. The world is filled with emergent moments and dynamic branching narratives that react to player actions in real time.”
Get the latest details below.
The DEFECT gameplay trailer kicked off [Galaxies Autumn 2025] and to further delight the audience, emptyvessel surprised fans with a second gameplay trailer post-show. The extended five-minute cut was introduced by studio founder Emanuel Palalic, and offered more gameplay by showing off a squad of THE SYSTEM’S heavily armed police forces storming the grimy halls of a massive apartment complex to terminate a rogue artificial intelligence. They’re quickly given a warm welcome by the ruthless gang lording over the complex, drawing each faction into an explosive firefight that tears the environment to shreds. A quick-thinking officer is able to hijack the consciousness of an unfortunate gang member which allows him to revive a downed teammate by placing them into the mind of this gang member thereby making them part of the friendly team until the end of the match. The squad of police descend further into the guts of the building in order to reboot the entire block, taking their final stand while soaking in the neon lights and lasers of an underground dancefloor. The two-minute short-form version of the gameplay trailer condenses the action down to the highlights in all their destructive glory.
Initially announced in 2024, DEFECT is a new squad-based cyberpunk shooter, from the creative minds of emptyvessel. DEFECT delivers a new kind of experience through its immersive and highly tactical combat for fans of the action shooter genre. The game is set in a futuristic, divided city ruled by an enigmatic AI known as “THE SYSTEM” all while ruthless gangs and rogue law enforcement vie for supremacy. DEFECT is being created by industry-leading developers behind iconic franchises including DOOM, Call of Duty, and The Last of Us; and features music from legendary composer Mick Gordon.
The world of DEFECT is like none other and dominated by one rule: Chaos Above All. Players will revel in the anarchy of a city on the brink. Set in the last city of mankind, where THE SYSTEM, an authoritarian AI, rules with inhuman logic. Choose from a collection of dangerous factions—THE SYSTEM’S own policing force, Rogue Police Elements, or a host of gangs vying for power. Players will compete to achieve objectives like smuggling guns, assassinating targets, or arresting suspects. Suit up with state-of-the-art weaponry and technology to give yourself the edge you need to live another day.
Every mission is different, whether you’re acting as the law, the lawless, or those caught in between. Choice will determine how the game is played with friends in single player, PvP or co-op multiplayer. Squads of 4v4 players vie to complete multiple open-ended objectives, valuable items and enhancements that can change the tide of a battle, and the inevitable chaos means no firefight ends the exact same way.
With a passion for creating games that deliver immersive experiences, DEFECT serves as the inaugural title for emptyvessel. The game is being built using Unreal Engine 5, and utilizes the latest technology alongside the team’s vision for delivering unique and exciting gameplay experiences.
DEFECT will be available for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. A release date has yet to be announced.
Watch the trailers below. View the screenshots at the gallery.