Amnesia: Rebirth ARG: Difference between revisions
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In the video, | The video features a person wearing a bracelet with a black feather. In the video, this person opens an ammunition box and briefly looks at a note before the video abruptly ends.<ref>Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 3, 2020). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrnodo783WQ Box 12, Recent Acquisitions] (YouTube video).</ref> The note reads: | ||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
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The person in the video is seen operating a short wave radio, which plays an ominous sound of a person singing the song "See Saw Margery Daw".<ref>Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Fi3DmXwh4] (YouTube video).</ref> | The person in the video is seen operating a short wave radio, which plays an ominous sound of a person singing the song "See Saw Margery Daw".<ref>Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Fi3DmXwh4 Box 11, recent acquisitions] (YouTube video).</ref> | ||
The description of the video reads: | The description of the video reads: | ||
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== Update 4 == | == Update 4 == | ||
[[File:torn_puzzle.png|thumb|right|Result of the re-arranged image pieces.]] | [[File:torn_puzzle.png|thumb|right|Result of the re-arranged image pieces.]] | ||
On 13 | On February 13, 2020, a new "Press Kit" button was added to the site.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200220031932/https://nextfrictionalgame.com/ Next Frictional Game.] Archived February 20, 2020 from [https://nextfrictionalgame.com/ the original].</ref> The button lead to a [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B46VxpjfO5WCbVlKZm0wWnJQelE Google Drive folder], which contained sub-folders for each of Frictional's games. | ||
< | |||
The button lead to a [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B46VxpjfO5WCbVlKZm0wWnJQelE | Inside the <code>unannounced</code> folder, another folder was found, which contained 11 image files. Each file's name was a single character. The images were pieced together to form an incomplete image. When reading the names of each photo from top-left to bottom-right, the following string was created <code>1KaDkmxsvTo</code>: a valid YouTube video ID that led to the video <code>Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3)</code>. | ||
Inside the <code>unannounced</code> folder, another folder was found, which | |||
The images were | |||
=== Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3) === | === Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3) === | ||
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The person in this video wears a bracelet with a black feather on it, suggesting it is the same person from [[#Box 12, Recent Acquisitions|Box 12, Recent Acquisitions]]. This video is dated two months after Box 12, Recent Acquisitions. | |||
The subject of the video is an artifact made of sticks and feathers can be seen. The person retrieves a golden ring carved with symbols from within the artifact, but the symbols are not clearly visible.<ref>Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KaDkmxsvTo Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3)] (YouTube video).</ref> | |||
The description of the video reads: | |||
<blockquote> | |||
Recovered 13/7/2018, via source S576a. Algeciras, worksite, ex-warehouse - prev. owners Ortiz Marin (until 2004), GPDS (1997-2004), Estrella del Sur (1973-1995), Sterling Shipping Company (1942?-1973). | |||
</blockquote> | |||
<div style="clear: both"></div> | <div style="clear: both"></div> | ||
== Update 5 == | == Update 5 == | ||
On 20 | On February 20, 2020, a new entry appeared in the HTML code of the website:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200229093842/https://nextfrictionalgame.com/ Next Frictional Game.] Archived February 29, 2020 from [https://nextfrictionalgame.com/ the original].</ref> | ||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
// Kifpd kmxdzs rwxszr xe f rbkrwfspz bsdsxls | // Kifpd kmxdzs rwxszr xe f rbkrwfspz bsdsxls | ||
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</pre> | </pre> | ||
By solving this [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substitution_cipher substitution cipher], the following message was revealed: | |||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
Black broken stones of a substance unknown | Black broken stones of a substance unknown | ||
The anomaly does not lie in the physical form | The anomaly does not lie in the physical form | ||
Beyond sight,the lines of the world twist and are reshaped | Beyond sight, the lines of the world twist and are reshaped | ||
It is a tear in the veil | It is a tear in the veil | ||
What lies beyond? | What lies beyond? | ||
Is this what became of Cassandra? | Is this what became of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra Cassandra]? | ||
eightnineytdasheighteightRhvQ | |||
</pre> | </pre> | ||
The final line of the cipher, once spaces are added, reads: <code>eight nine yt dash eight eight RhvQ</code>. This phrase becomes the string <code>89yt-88RhvQ</code>a valid YouTube video ID that led to the video <code>Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15)</code>. | |||
<code>eight nine yt dash eight eight RhvQ</code> | |||
=== Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15) === | === Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15) === | ||
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}} | }} | ||
The video shows a person approaching some black stones while holding a compass. When they reach the black stones, the compass starts to spin erratically, and the video feed glitches out before cutting. <ref>Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89yt-88RhvQ Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15)] (YouTube video).</ref> | |||
The | The description of the video reads: | ||
< | |||
<blockquote> | |||
Recovered 12/2/2016, website acquisition. Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. Recovery team dispatched, could not locate site or anomaly. | |||
</blockquote> | |||
<div style="clear: both"></div> | <div style="clear: both"></div> | ||
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== Update 6 == | == Update 6 == | ||
On 28/02/2020, 11 letters and symbols were scattered across the internet, mainly in Frictional's social media sites: | On 28/02/2020, 11 letters and symbols were scattered across the internet, mainly in Frictional's social media sites: | ||
[https://twitter.com/frictionalgames 1~ - From FG's twitter banner.] <br> | [https://twitter.com/frictionalgames 1~ - From FG's twitter banner.] <br> | ||
[https://www.frictionalgames.com/forum/thread-56731.html A* - From a FG forum thread.] <br> | [https://www.frictionalgames.com/forum/thread-56731.html A* - From a FG forum thread.] <br> | ||
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[https://frictionalgames.com/press-kit/ F! - Found in the Press Kit page in FG's site.] <br> | [https://frictionalgames.com/press-kit/ F! - Found in the Press Kit page in FG's site.] <br> | ||
[https://twitter.com/frictionalgames o% - From FG's twitter bio.] <br> | [https://twitter.com/frictionalgames o% - From FG's twitter bio.] <br> | ||
In addition, a new entry appeared in the HTML code, which consists of 11 lines short story. <br> | In addition, a new entry appeared in the HTML code, which consists of 11 lines short story. <br> | ||
The letters were matched with the sentences by associating the meaning of the sentences to the symbols attached to the letters. The result was: | The letters were matched with the sentences by associating the meaning of the sentences to the symbols attached to the letters. The result was: | ||
Revision as of 19:49, 1 December 2025
| Amnesia: Rebirth ARG | |
|---|---|
| Type | Official |
| Creator | Frictional Games |
| Discovered | 2020-01-23 |
| Completed | 2020-03-06 |
List of Investigations > Amnesia: Rebirth ARG
The Amnesia: Rebirth ARG was an official ARG created to reveal and promote Amnesia: Rebirth, created by Frictional Games'. The game was initially teased under the title Secret Project #1. The ARG took place on the Next Frictional Game website, and involved finding YouTube video IDs by solving puzzles hidden within the site.
Background
On December 10, 2019, a one-second video of a growing embryo was uploaded to https://nextfrictionalgame.com/, a website that Frictional Games had historically used to promote their upcoming projects. Throughout the next several months, new videos were sporadically uploaded to the site.[1] As new videos were uploaded, the previous videos were deleted. Each video was named after the date it was posted, following the format MMDD.[2]
Update 1
On January 23, 2020, the website was updated with the first clue for the ARG: a new "eye" icon next to the existing social media icons.[3] Hovering over the icon revealed a YouTube video ID suWaF-aIdV4, which led to a video named Box 52, Tape 16.
By inspecting the HTML of the site, another YouTube video ID pBW3V85Y-I4 was found in a <meta> element with the name artefact. The ID led to a video named Box 7 Reel 2, Partial Success.
-
The "eye" icon with its hover text -
The added HTML element
Box 52, Tape 16
The video shows a collection of rocks near a body of water, and then zooms in on a rock with peculiar symbols craved on it.[4] The description of the video reads:
Video Cassette 16/2/83, copy from a private collection. Marked Shetpe, KSSR.
The acronym "KSSR" refers to the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, now Kazakhstan.
Box 7 Reel 2, Partial Success
Nothing can be seen in the video, but three monstrous screams can be heard.[5] The description of the video reads:
Artefact 1/7/115, marked "Triple Crown". Video unrecoverable, Audio track fragment reconstructed, denoised.
Update 2
On January 29, 2020, hidden text was added to https://nextfrictionalgame.com.[6] The text could be made visible by highlighting the lower part of the website. It read:
Exxpedition: frrequenncy oof raddioo 78.3 short WWave seQQuence
The duplicated letters in this phrase, combined with the numbers, created the string xrnodo783WQ: a valid YouTube video ID that led to the video Box 12, Recent Acquisitions.
Box 12, Recent Acquisitions
The video features a person wearing a bracelet with a black feather. In the video, this person opens an ammunition box and briefly looks at a note before the video abruptly ends.[7] The note reads:
There is an itching behind my eyes as if a beetle burrows there in the gold of my brain, boring its way in, mandibles clawing at grey matter as if a gnarled finger has been pushed into my skill, a broken fingernail working into my thoughts. I want to reach in with a needle to scratch it or perhaps a piece of wire through the tear duct, threading through the lacrimal canal. Threadlike black worms squirm in my eye. When I think about them they are agitated and start to trash around. They know I am scared and it makes them worse. If I hold myself still, if I ease my mind, if I empty my head and try not to be afraid of [...] then the itching fades to the tickling of a feather. I've tried filling myself with the notes of a song or the colours of a beautiful picture, but it doesn't work. Only emptiness gives me any [...] I wish I had my gun.
The description of the video reads:
Recovered 12/5/2018, via source S576a. Salzburg, site TBD. Document retrieval failed, investigation commissioned.
Update 3
On February 4, 2020, a new element was added to the website's HTML, named transmission. By adding /transmission to the site's URL, hosted a file. After a .wav extension was added to the filename, the file could be played. It contained audio that resembled Morse code, which translated to:
V0FFI3DDMXXWH4
Converting the doubled letters into single uppercase letters and the single letters into lowercase letters, created the string v0Fi3DmXwh4: a valid YouTube video ID that led to the video Box 11, recent acquisitions.
Box 11, recent acquisitions
The person in the video is seen operating a short wave radio, which plays an ominous sound of a person singing the song "See Saw Margery Daw".[8]
The description of the video reads:
Recovered 3/3/2017, website acquisition. Private workshop, Saint-Denis, Paris. Cover note: "Qu'avec cette vieille radio et qu'en cet endroit précis."
The "cover note" can be translated from French into English:
Only with this old radio and in this specific place.
Update 4
On February 13, 2020, a new "Press Kit" button was added to the site.[9] The button lead to a Google Drive folder, which contained sub-folders for each of Frictional's games.
Inside the unannounced folder, another folder was found, which contained 11 image files. Each file's name was a single character. The images were pieced together to form an incomplete image. When reading the names of each photo from top-left to bottom-right, the following string was created 1KaDkmxsvTo: a valid YouTube video ID that led to the video Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3).
Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3)
The person in this video wears a bracelet with a black feather on it, suggesting it is the same person from Box 12, Recent Acquisitions. This video is dated two months after Box 12, Recent Acquisitions.
The subject of the video is an artifact made of sticks and feathers can be seen. The person retrieves a golden ring carved with symbols from within the artifact, but the symbols are not clearly visible.[10]
The description of the video reads:
Recovered 13/7/2018, via source S576a. Algeciras, worksite, ex-warehouse - prev. owners Ortiz Marin (until 2004), GPDS (1997-2004), Estrella del Sur (1973-1995), Sterling Shipping Company (1942?-1973).
Update 5
On February 20, 2020, a new entry appeared in the HTML code of the website:[11]
// Kifpd kmxdzs rwxszr xe f rbkrwfspz bsdsxls // Woz fsxnfiv uxzr sxw itz ts woz covrtpfi exmn // Kzvxsu rtjow, woz itszr xe woz lxmiu wltrw flfv emxn zhbtitkmtbn fsu fmz mzrofczu // Tw tr f wzfm ts woz gzti // Lofw itzr kzvxsu? // Tr wotr lofw kzpfnz xe Pfrrfsumf? // ztjowstszvwufroztjowztjowMogH
By solving this substitution cipher, the following message was revealed:
Black broken stones of a substance unknown The anomaly does not lie in the physical form Beyond sight, the lines of the world twist and are reshaped It is a tear in the veil What lies beyond? Is this what became of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra Cassandra]? eightnineytdasheighteightRhvQ
The final line of the cipher, once spaces are added, reads: eight nine yt dash eight eight RhvQ. This phrase becomes the string 89yt-88RhvQa valid YouTube video ID that led to the video Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15).
Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15)
The video shows a person approaching some black stones while holding a compass. When they reach the black stones, the compass starts to spin erratically, and the video feed glitches out before cutting. [12]
The description of the video reads:
Recovered 12/2/2016, website acquisition. Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. Recovery team dispatched, could not locate site or anomaly.
Update 6
On 28/02/2020, 11 letters and symbols were scattered across the internet, mainly in Frictional's social media sites:
1~ - From FG's twitter banner.
A* - From a FG forum thread.
K§ - From description of Card 15 video which was updated.
y^ - From Tumblr post.
I$ - From FG's linked-in page.
j= - From Grip's desk.
Y@ - From FG's instagram post.
l# - From Frictional Games facebook post.
c/ - From c.png in press kit google drive
F! - Found in the Press Kit page in FG's site.
o% - From FG's twitter bio.
In addition, a new entry appeared in the HTML code, which consists of 11 lines short story.
The letters were matched with the sentences by associating the meaning of the sentences to the symbols attached to the letters. The result was:
The rise and fall of dunes, the waves of a waterless sea - 1~ A single star burns in the void; below it is nothing but dust - A* Two lizards dance in the heat, writhing across the sand - K§ A tower pierces the sky; an impossible point of ascent - y^ To plunder the earth for gold, then realise your coin has no worth - I$ To travel a well-trodden road, then find yourself pathless and lost - j= To gaze at a circle of glass, to discover a world lies within - Y@ Life is the simplest of games, a game it seems no-one can win - l# The veil is split in two, - c/ The fear gives rise to rage, - F! A hundred lives from now, all this will be memory, lost in the desert. - o%
Combining the letters in order from top to bottom, results in the YouTube ID 1AKyIjYlcFo, which led to the video "i am Tasi"
"I am Tasi"
This is the first video that provides in-game footage.
It the protagonist of the game is called Tasi, a seemingly middle-eastern female. Tasi is looking for someone.
Tasi experiences something anomalous which makes her to reassure herself she is in fact still her, and not something else.
Game Reveal
On 06/03/2020, The ARG ended and Frictional Games revealed their new title - Amnesia: Rebirth.
References
- ↑ Frictional Games. Website Clips. Accessed December 1, 2025.
- ↑ Amnesia: Rebirth - Analysis / Theories / ARG document. Accessed December 1, 2025.
- ↑ Next Frictional Game. Archived January 30, 2020 from the original.
- ↑ Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 3, 2020). Box 52, Tape 16 (YouTube video).
- ↑ Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 3, 2020). Box 7 Reel 2, Partial Success (YouTube video).
- ↑ Next Frictional Game. Archived January 30, 2020 from the original.
- ↑ Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 3, 2020). Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (YouTube video).
- ↑ Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). Box 11, recent acquisitions (YouTube video).
- ↑ Next Frictional Game. Archived February 20, 2020 from the original.
- ↑ Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). Box 12, Recent Acquisitions (Card 3) (YouTube video).
- ↑ Next Frictional Game. Archived February 29, 2020 from the original.
- ↑ Frictional Games [@frictionalgames] (March 5, 2020). Box 11, Recent Acquisitions (Card 15) (YouTube video).