Ready or Not Gets a Bit More…Ready for Consoles? (And Why That Matters for PC Players)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
*Ready or Not* is coming to consoles, but getting there required some content tweaks related to violence and nudity, some of which are impacting the PC version too. The developers say it's all about avoiding bugs and enabling crossplay, while some players cry foul.
Right, so the hyper-realistic tactical shooter *Ready or Not* is finally heading to consoles on July 15th, 2025, which is grand. But – and there's always a but, isn't there? – getting it certified for PlayStation and Xbox has meant a few, shall we say, *adjustments*. Apparently, console platforms have standards around things like dismemberment, nudity, and how children are depicted (fair enough, really).
Void Interactive, the developers, dropped the news on Steam, explaining that they had to tone down a few elements to get those sweet PEGI 18 / USK 18 / ESRB M ratings. And because maintaining entirely separate versions of a game is apparently a recipe for bugs and crossplay chaos, some of those changes are trickling down to the PC version too. (Think of it like trying to cast a simple 'mend' spell and accidentally turning the entire room into rubber chickens. Unexpected consequences, mate.)
Now, before you sharpen your pitchforks and head to the Steam review section (some already have, apparently), it sounds like the changes are fairly subtle. Player-induced dismemberment is still there, just a bit less…enthusiastic. Torture scenes have been dialed back a notch, and some characters got a bit more clothing. The most notable tweak seems to be how a child is depicted in one mission, now shown as unconscious rather than, well, not unconscious. I reckon that's a solid change.
The team claims that these tweaks won't be noticeable to most players, focusing mainly on evidence and nudity, and crucially, PC players won't see texture changes. The primary issue is cross-play, as they stated that 'the game content must be equal or basically equal for multiplayer to work.'
Here's the real kicker: Void Interactive lost their publisher, Team17, after announcing a school shooting mission. Blimey. Combine that with this console certification business, and you've got a recipe for a slightly sanitized *Ready or Not*. Is it censorship, as some reviewers are screaming? Maybe. Or is it just the reality of getting a gritty, realistic shooter onto platforms with different standards? I reckon it's a bit of both. Either way, I'm keen to see what players make of the changes when the console version drops.
Tags: Ready or Not, Console Gaming, PC Gaming, Censorship, Game Development
Original article: Eurogamer