VOID Interactive has responded to player backlash after it made changes to the PC version of its controversial shooter Ready or Not in order to secure a console release, citing “misconceptions and misinformation” about the amendments.
Yesterday, July 2, we reported that 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.
At the time, VOID insisted the changes were “small enough that most people here wouldn’t notice if we didn’t say anything,” but it “wanted to be transparent” with its players. The news has caused Ready or Not’s Steam user review rating to hit “mostly negative” for recent reviews, although overall the review rating remains “very positive.” Most of the negative reviews complain about “censorship.”
Now, in a new statement, VOID set out “full visibility” into what has, and has not, changed, including before-and-after screenshots. It insisted “the effects of gore and violence have not been toned down.”
“We recently shared that Ready or Not’s PC version underwent minor content changes to support stability and align with policies enforced by global platforms and age rating bodies,” the statement began. “These adjustments were made to ensure a smooth global launch across platforms — while fully preserving the game’s tone, themes, and intensity.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen misconceptions and misinformation circulating around the scope of these changes. We want to ensure our entire community has full visibility into what has — and has not — changed. We’re including before-and-after visuals to show that the game’s tone, atmosphere, and graphical impact remain intact. The effects of gore and violence — key to the game’s immersive realism — have not been toned down.”
VOID stressed that missions such as Elephant, Neon Tomb, and the infamous Valley of the Dolls “remain unchanged,” adding it has “always believed in creative freedom and the right to build experiences that push boundaries in the service of immersion and realism. That will not change.”
“At the same time, we operate in a global ecosystem of platform standards, age rating boards, and local legal restrictions,” the studio added. “While we may disagree with how some content is treated, we’ve only made changes where absolutely required, and only to the letter of the regulations — no further. As a hyper-realistic tactical FPS, Ready or Not faces different scrutiny than more stylized or fictional games. That’s a reality of the world we publish in — not a change in our creative vision or values.”
Warning! Potentially distrubing images of Ready or Not follow:
The team then outlined specifically what the “six targeted visual changes” entailed:
- 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 (note: dismemberment for living characters remains unchanged).
“It’s not about the specifics, it’s a matter of principle,” wrote one respondent in the comments. “Any amount of censorship is too much.” Another said: “great, so you’re saying you’re hearing us, but refusing to listen.” “Yeah, damaging the vision of the game just because of console port?” added someone else. “Get a grip, at least put a slider in the settings. What is this?”
While most of the 1,200+ comments continue to complain about censorship, not all players are aggrieved: “Honestly, not that big of a deal as long as overall map atmosphere stays good,” said another.
VOID Interactive parted ways with publisher Team17 one day after the developer shared it would have a school shooting level. 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, which was released on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
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.
