171 (video game)

Lore & Background

171 was first conceived around 2010, when Brazilian-themed mods for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas were common. Development was slow due to a small team of less than ten people working part-time. Initially using the Blender 3D engine, the game was re-created in Unreal Engine 4 in 2015 and publicly unveiled that year, generating great media expectation. The name comes from article 171 of the Brazilian Penal Code, which describes the crime of estelionato (confidence trick); in Brazilian slang, 171 refers to a con artist or criminal. The game is set in Sumariti, a fictional city based on Sumaré in São Paulo, and features an open world with movement on foot or vehicles. Gameplay includes role-playing and third-person shooter elements, with the player controlling a young criminal completing legal and illegal gigs, using firearms, and committing theft and murder in a faithful parody of Brazilian neighborhoods.

Reader's Guide

171 is significant as a prominent Brazilian independent game that drew widespread attention for its ambitious open-world design and local cultural themes. The article notes that its teaser trailer in October 2015 gained instant popularity across media, including television on RecordTV's Programa do Porchat. The game was frequently nicknamed 'the Brazilian Grand Theft Auto,' a comparison the developers called 'inevitable' and sometimes 'flattering.' Crowdfunding on Catarse raised over R$68,000 in 2019 and over R$195,000 in 2020, enabling promotion at Brasil Game Show 2019, where IGN considered it a highlight. The developers invited independent artists, musicians, and graffiti artists to contribute, framing it as a social project. A pre-alpha version was demonstrated in October 2019, and an alpha version released in November 2022 through early access. The full release is expected in 2026. The game's legacy lies in its representation of Brazilian culture in a major game genre, its grassroots development by a small part-time team, and its sustained community support.

Did You Know?

• The fictional city Sumariti is based on Sumaré in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
• The teaser trailer used the song 'Chavão' by Família Shake and appeared on the television program Programa do Porchat.
• A pre-alpha version was demonstrated at Brasil Game Show in October 2019, featuring ten cars, two weapons, and a limited part of the city.

From Modding Roots to a Full Production

The seeds of 171 were planted during a period when Brazilian gamers were actively reshaping Western open-world titles to reflect their own culture. Around 2010 and 2011, modifications for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that swapped in local vehicles, clothing, and locations were thriving in the community. A small group of developers in São Paulo, who would become Betagames Group, saw in those scattered mods the outline of something larger: a complete open-world game rooted entirely in Brazilian life. Diogo Moraes, one of the team members, later explained that the freedom inherent in open-world design resonated deeply with them, and the growing presence of Brazilian content in games made them believe a dedicated title was not just desirable but expected. The early years were grueling. With fewer than ten people working part-time, progress was slow. The team initially built the project in the Blender 3D engine before a full recreation in Unreal Engine 4 in 2015. That same year, they also shipped a smaller title, Minta se Puder, and launched a Patreon campaign to sustain their work.

A City Built from the Suburbs

The title 171 carries a double meaning that anchors the game's identity. Article 171 of the Brazilian Penal Code defines estelionato, the offense of confidence trickery, and in everyday slang the number has become shorthand for a con artist or, more broadly, any crook. That criminal undercurrent flows through the story of Nicolau Souza, a young man whose turbulent existence pulls him into the underworld of Sumariti, a fictional city modeled on the real municipality of Sumaré in the state of São Paulo. The open world is designed as a faithful parody of Brazilian low-income neighborhoods: players encounter houses with unfinished walls, overflowing trash bins, and utility poles covered in paint. Gameplay blends third-person shooting with role-playing elements, letting the player complete both legal and illegal gigs, purchase firearms, steal and drive a variety of vehicles, and engage in acts ranging from theft to murder. The setting is not a generic metropolis but a deliberate, textured recreation of a specific corner of Brazilian urban life.

Going Viral and Building a Cultural Bridge

When Betagames Group uploaded a teaser trailer to YouTube in October 2015, the response was immediate and far-reaching. The video, set to the track "Chavão" by Família Shake, appeared on mainstream television programs such as RecordTV's Programa do Porchat and earned the game a persistent media nickname: "the Brazilian Grand Theft Auto." The developers seized the momentum to build something beyond a game. They opened their doors to independent musicians, DJs, and bands, inviting them to submit original compositions for inclusion in the soundtrack. They also solicited visual work from graffiti artists, framing the gesture as a form of cultural expression that could offer less fortunate creators a platform for national recognition. A social project launched in April 2016 drew contributions from artists including Família Shake, Sephion, Paradgma, and Quartzo Records. The community's enthusiasm was measurable: a walkthrough video shared through the YouTube channel Gigaton Games surpassed two million views and 170,000 likes by mid-2017, while a partnership with São Paulo internet provider Mega Provedor was struck to handle the surge of traffic hitting the studio's website.

Crowdfunding, Milestones, and the Road to 2026

Funding has always been a central challenge for Betagames Group's small, part-time crew. In January 2019, a campaign on Catarse, Brazil's homegrown crowdfunding platform, raised more than R$68,000 (roughly US$18,378), money that helped cover both development costs and the team's appearance at that year's Brasil Game Show convention. After a pre-alpha build went out in March 2020, a second Catarse drive in May of the same year collected over R$195,000 (approximately US$37,500), signaling that the audience's patience and enthusiasm had only grown. An alpha version became available through early access in November 2022. The full release is currently projected for 2026. Distribution is split between two publishers: Betagames Group handles the Windows version, while QUByte Interactive will bring the title to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Along the way, the team has continued releasing development updates, keeping the project visible and the community engaged through more than a decade of work.