Ready or Not, the tactical first-person shooter from VOID Interactive, is being review-bombed on Steam due to changes made to the game to secure its release on consoles.
In a statement posted to Steam, VOID said it had to adjust levels of gore, nudity, violence, and the "mistreatment of children" ahead of the July 15 console release, and rather than "maintaining multiple versions with different assets and mechanics" that would "increase the likelihood of bugs," some aspects of the PC version have also been revised.
"Throughout this console port process, we've done our utmost to only make changes when they are flagged as absolutely required by our first-party partners, and any changes aim to remain faithful to the original tonality of the game, so there is no reason to be alarmed," the development team insisted.
"Our age rating as it stands for console is ESRB M-rating, PEGI 18, and USK 18 to give an idea. Still, there are other game content requirements that console platforms have in order to exist on their systems, and a portion of these changes will be visible on the PC version."
That said, it admitted that if the change required was, for example, "just a texture swap," VOID could keep the original intent on the PC version, but "if the change involved transforming an entire asset (like adding clothing to a character model) this was less feasible."
Some of the changes outlined by the team include preventing players from dismembering enemies once they're dead — although you can continue to shoot off limbs when they're alive — dialing down torture and nudity, and an animation change where a child is now portrayed "unconscious/sleeping, instead of the previously convulsive animation from before that had a violent appearance."
"The changes with the console version are small enough that most people here wouldn't notice if we didn't say anything, but we want to be transparent," VOID added. "It's largely just evidence and nudity that's altered, and the texture changes don't affect the PC version."
And now, some PC players are letting VOID know how they feel about it.
"Do not buy this game. Do not support a company like VOID Interactive. The game wasn’t perfect initially, but now they are choosing to censor it," said one. "They made their money from you — the PC players on Steam — and now, out of sheer greed, they’re appeasing console market regulators by censoring the game to meet their demands."
"PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!!" insisted another. "There is NO REASON for them to be censoring ANY of its content AT ALL. The censorship is BS PROPAGANDA because they're too damn LAZY to do actual work and separate PC/console!!! I DID NOT PAY FOR AN 18+ GAME JUST FOR IT TO BE CENSORED!!!"
While Ready or Not retains a 'very positive' overall user review rating on Steam, recent reviews are 'mixed' as a result of the flood of negative comments. VOID has yet to respond publicly to the complaints. IGN has asked for comment.
Ready or Not was briefly hauled offline in 2022 after a takedown request was issued due to a trademark dispute. The issue related to a level that depicted a mass shooting at a nightclub called Prysm that was released on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
VOID Interactive parted ways with publisher Team17 one day after the developer shared it would have a school shooting level.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
