Ready or Not (video game)
| Ready or Not | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | VOID Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | VOID Interactive |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4[citation needed] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | December 17, 2021 (early access) |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter, tactical shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Ready or Not is a tactical first-person shooter by Ireland-based VOID Interactive. It was released through Steam early access on December 17, 2021.
Gameplay
The game is centered on a team of SWAT operatives in the fictional American city of Los Suenos. Realism is a central pillar of the experience, with both players and suspects being killed in only a few shots. A variety of less-lethal weapons such as stun grenades, tasers and pepper spray are available in addition to firearms and players are awarded more points for arresting suspects than killing them.
Modes
Five modes are playable: confronting barricaded suspects, conducting a raid, stopping an active shooter, defusing bombs after a bomb threat and rescuing hostages. Each mode has different rules of engagement with penalties awarded for violating them. Missions are playable single-player with AI teammates or co-cooperatively with up to four other players through online multiplayer. A competitive player versus player mode is planned for the full release.
Development
Development began in June 2016 and a reveal trailer was released on May 3, 2017, on YouTube.[1] An alpha version of the game was made available on August 19, 2019[2] for owners of the more expensive Supporter Edition under a non-disclosure agreement. Select YouTubers were invited to a PVP test in April 2020 and were allowed to publish footage.[3] A partnership with Team17 to publish the game under their label was announced on March 22, 2021.[4] The game released to Steam Early Access on December 17, 2021.[5]
Loss of publisher
On December 20, 2021, VOID announced that their partnership with Team17 had ended and that they would no longer be publishing the game. Speculation suggested that this was due to the developers promising the inclusion of a school shooting level on Reddit,[6] although this was denied by VOID.[7]
Reception
Ready or Not was the best selling game on Steam in the week after its release and has been celebrated as a spiritual successor to the Police Quest: SWAT series and early Rainbow Six games.[8]
In an early review for Kotaku, Ethan Gach called Ready or Not a “tactical horror game” and “an unsettling SWAT fantasy”, praising its atmosphere but also criticizing it as tasteless due to insensitivity towards American police brutality and jarring tonal shifts between crude humor and dark drama. Gach also unfavorably highlighted apparent references to alt-right memes such as Redpill, the use of “Jogger” as a racist euphemism (in reference to Ahmaud Arbery). The developers later responded to the critique, denying any connection to extremism and claiming the alleged dog whistles were coincidental, as well as stating they would be removing the imagery in question.[9]
References
- ^ Burns, Ben (May 5, 2017). "Tactical FPS Ready Or Not announced via gritty teaser trailer". PCGamesN. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ VOID Interactive (August 19, 2019). "READY OR NOT SUPPORTER ALPHA AVAILABLE NOW TO PLAY. ALPHA IS LIVE UNTIL JUST BEFORE OUR BETA IN 2020". Twitter. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Rogue-9 (April 29, 2020). "Ready or Not (Alpha) Loadout Options". Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Nelva, Giuseppe (March 22, 2021). "Squad-Based Tactical Shooter Ready or Not Will Launch Under Team17's Label". Twinfinite. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chris J, Capel (December 18, 2021). "Rainbow Six and SWAT heir Ready or Not is out now in early access". PCGamesN. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jeremy, Winslow (December 22, 2021). "Game Loses Publisher Days After Devs Remind Fans About Apparent School Shooting Level". Kotaku. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chalk, Andy (December 24, 2021). "Ready or Not studio says planned 'school shooting' level did not cause split with publisher". PC Gamer. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bailey, Dustin (December 27, 2021). "The best-selling game of the Steam Winter Sale isn't on sale". PCGamesN. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Gach, Ethan (January 6, 2022). "Controversial Steam Best Seller Ready Or Not Is An Unsettling SWAT Fantasy". Kotaku. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)