Even with some heavy review bombing lately, Ready or Not is proving that it’s still got serious staying power. The tactical shooter has more than doubled its player count on Steam, showing that people are still flocking to the game—controversy or not.
Developed by VOID Interactive, Ready or Not originally launched in early access back in 2021 and hit version 1.0 in 2023. The game puts players in the boots of a SWAT officer operating in the fictional (but very gritty) city of Los Suenos. And while it’s been praised as one of the top tactical shooters out there, it’s also been in the middle of some drama lately.
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Why the Backlash?
Earlier this year, Ready or Not got review bombed after VOID Interactive made some changes to the game ahead of its console launch. To pass certification for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, they had to remove nudity, reduce gore, and tone down certain scenes—including ones involving NPC drug overdoses. Not all players were happy about that, and they let the devs know through negative Steam reviews.
As a result, the game’s recent review rating dropped to “Mostly Negative”. But clearly, that hasn’t scared people away.
Player Count Is On the Rise
According to PC Gamer, the game hit a peak of 17,269 concurrent players on Steam on July 6. That’s a major jump from just under 6,000 players on June 26. A big part of this spike likely came from the Steam Summer Sale, where Ready or Not was available at 50% off. For a game that rarely goes on sale, that discount definitely got people clicking “Add to Cart.”
And it’s not just PC players jumping in. The Digital Deluxe Edition of Ready or Not is currently the top pre-order on PlayStation, which is a pretty solid indicator that console players are hyped too.
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Console Release Just Around the Corner
Ready or Not officially drops on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on July 15. This will be the first time the game is available outside of PC. Pricing is pretty standard:
- $50 for the Standard Edition
- $70 for the Deluxe Edition (includes DLC)
The console version will include new single-player and online co-op missions right at launch, and those same updates are hitting the PC version too.
So, Does Review Bombing Even Work?
That’s kind of the big takeaway here. The whole situation throws into question how effective review bombing actually is. Sure, a flood of negative reviews can bring down a game’s rating, but Ready or Not is still pulling in thousands of players and topping sales charts. People might be mad, but they’re still playing—and buying.
Between its solid gameplay, growing player base, and upcoming console launch, Ready or Not seems to be weathering the storm just fine. Whether the controversy fades or flares up again after July 15, one thing’s clear: the game’s popularity isn’t going anywhere.
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