Developer Void Interactive attracted major controversy this week after one of its employees suggested that its highly acclaimed SWAT-style shooter, Ready or Not, would be getting a level that pitched players into a school-shooting scenario.
Void has now shared a statement on its official Twitter account to address the commotion, which some believe has everything to do with why Ready or Not lost its publisher, Team17, this week. While it’s unclear whether Void will go ahead and add the controversial level, the developer has promised in its statement that it will continue to follow its vision.
Void’s statement in full:
There is no easy way to address this issue without creating strong emotional responses from one group or another, but we will do our best. I would like to start by mentioning a quote from our original company documentation that we have always believed in, continue to believe in, and that has been known to anyone who has engaged in business with our company.
“Void Interactive has a clear commitment to deliver high quality, impactful content that other mainstream software developers may shy away from due to cultural conventions and norms. At Void Interactive we value the voice of our customers and partners and whilst this will not dictate our direction, we will allow it to smartly influence what we do. At its core, the game honors the work of dedicated law enforcement officers across the world and in no way intends to glorify cowardly criminal acts.”
We are dedicated to promoting a level of authenticity and realism in our videogame, Ready or Not, that carries with it difficult subject matter. We understand that this requires a certain responsibility—to our fans and community, yes. But also to those who have been impacted by the traumatic events law enforcement all too often responds to. Rest assured, our aim is to handle all of Ready or Not’s content with the level of weight and respect that it warrants. We have recently had to remind certain team members of the required care in discussing this material now and on an ongoing basis.
“School” is not just a part of Ready or Not’s story, it is part of the fabric of thousands of people’s stories worldwide. It is the story of those who have died too soon at the hands of a deranged gunman, the story of family and friends waiting for a phone call that might never come, the story of the first responders who do everything they can only for it not to be enough. It is a look at an uncomfortable reality that has become all too common, and we hope that we can play some small part in honoring those who have been impacted by these real world tragedies with a portrayal that does not trivialize their experiences.
We will continue to follow our vision, we will continue to listen, and we will continue to work every day on Ready or Not. Thank you.
The controversy over Ready or Not was sparked by a thread on the shooter’s official subreddit that asked players whether the game should feature a school shooting mission. Although it’s now been deleted, an employee had chimed in with enthusiasm, commenting that “you better believe it’s gonna.”
Source: Void Interactive