Ready or Not Dev Addresses Content Changes, Denies Censorship Claims
▼ Summary
– VOID Interactive faced backlash for altering Ready or Not to meet console certification requirements but defended the changes as minimal and necessary.
– The game retains its violent shootouts and gore, but dismembering dead bodies, nudity, and certain disturbing references were removed or softened.
– Despite the developer’s clarification, some players continue to criticize the changes, leading to a drop in recent review scores.
– Critics argue the alterations dilute the game’s unique atmosphere, while others dismiss the backlash as overblown.
– Ready or Not is currently discounted on Steam and will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 15.
VOID Interactive, the developer behind the tactical shooter Ready or Not, has responded to recent criticism over alleged censorship, clarifying that adjustments were made solely to meet platform certification requirements without compromising the game’s core violent tone. The studio faced significant backlash in June after players accused it of watering down the game’s gritty realism to appease console standards.
In a detailed statement, the developer explained that while certain elements were modified, the core experience remains intact. Gunfights still feature brutal dismemberment and graphic violence, though players can no longer mutilate already-dead enemies. Other changes include the removal of nudity, toning down a reference to child exploitation, and replacing a convulsing NPC with a sleeping character. VOID stressed that these edits were minimal and strictly adhered to platform guidelines, stating, “The visceral impact of combat, central to the game’s realism, has not been diluted. We only adjusted what was mandatory, nothing more.”
Despite the explanation, discontent persists among some players. Recent Steam reviews have shifted sharply negative, with critics arguing the alterations undermine Ready or Not’s distinctive atmosphere. One dissatisfied player wrote, “It’s lost its edge and feels like just another clunky tactical shooter now.” Others dismissed the outrage as overblown, with one reviewer quipping, “If this ruins the game for you, maybe step outside for once.”
Currently discounted during Steam’s Summer Sale, Ready or Not is available for $25, with a DLC bundle priced at $39. The console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are set to launch on July 15.
(Source: GameSpot)
