Ready or Not Devs Walk a Tightrope: Console Release vs. Gore – Have They Sold Out?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Void Interactive is trying to calm down *Ready or Not* players after announcing changes to the game to get it approved for consoles, leading to accusations of censorship and the company attempting to reassure players that the core experience remains intact.
Right, so the developers of *Ready or Not*, Void Interactive, have found themselves in a bit of a pickle, haven't they? Seems the ol' console release carrot dangling in front of them has led to some…adjustments…to their hyper-realistic tactical shooter. And, as you might imagine, the PC faithful aren't exactly thrilled. (Source: Eurogamer)
Now, according to Eurogamer, the uproar started when Void announced changes – including, but not limited to, toning down the "explicit representations of violence" – to get *Ready or Not* squeaky-clean enough for consoles. The plan was to trickle some of those changes back into the PC version, and well, the internet did what the internet does best: exploded. Negative Steam reviews started pouring in faster than you can say "content censorship!"
But here's where it gets interesting. Void Interactive is now trying to walk back those initial statements, claiming they've seen "misconceptions and misinformation circulating" (you don't say?). They're insisting that the game's "tone, atmosphere, and graphical impact remain intact" and that the gore and violence haven't been toned down. They even name-drop the infamous Valley of the Dolls mission, reassuring players it's still as messed up as ever.
According to a Steam post, Void says they "always believed in creative freedom and the right to build experiences that push boundaries" and that this "will not change." (Famous last words, eh?) They’re stuck navigating the messy world of platform standards, age rating boards, and local laws. As Void Interactive puts it, they're operating in a "global ecosystem." Basically, they’re saying they're only making changes where they absolutely have to.
They are, in the end, between a rock and a hard place. It seems they've only made changes where absolutely required, and only to the letter of the regulations. It's worth noting that *Ready or Not*, being a "hyper-realistic tactical FPS", faces a different level of scrutiny than games with more stylised or fictional violence.
Specifically, Void Interactive detailed six visual changes that will be in the PC version of Ready or Not:
* Twisted Nerve: The girl is now depicted as sleeping instead of convulsing. * A Lethal Obsession: Nudity involving the ghillie suit suspect has been adjusted. * Hide and Seek: Female hostages now wear underwear. * Narcos: Police informant hostage now wears underwear. * 23 Megabytes a Second: 'Photo of Minors' objective model was revised, also to better connect narratively with the later 'Sinuous Trail' mission. * Post-mortem dismemberment has been disabled. Dismemberment for living characters remains unchanged.
Void Interactive went on to share before and after images to show the changes that have been made. (Check out Eurogamer's original article for a link to the Steam post and the images). *Ready or Not* is scheduled to hit consoles on July 15th.
It’s a delicate balancing act, this console push. The question is, can Void Interactive appease both the console overlords and their die-hard PC fanbase? Or will this be yet another case of a game losing its edge in the pursuit of broader appeal? Only time will tell, mate. Only time will tell.
Tags: Ready or Not, Void Interactive, Censorship, Console Gaming, PC Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer