Regarded by its fans as one of the most intense, immersive, tactically astute shooters available, Ready or Not has been keeping PC players enraptured since its release back in 2023. Now, in 2025, a long-awaited, much-requested console port is coming. We’ve dissected 15 things you need to know before buying for your PS5 or Xbox Series X|S.
What is it?
Owing to the success of its PC version, It’s no surprise Ready or Not is porting to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as, amongst commandeering elite SWAT units equipped with authentic gear through missions against a calculated enemy, Ready or Not’s depiction of Los Sueños – a stand-in for LA, a city reimagined as corrupted by rampant criminality – offers elements of world-building more intriguing than other games of the genre.
Key features
An immersive SWAT simulation, Ready or Not puts realism front and centre. Beyond true-to-life weapons and gear, plus high-stakes missions inspired by real-world events, in developing Ready or Not VOID Interactive consulted with global police forces to establish rules of engagement, to provide authentic squad manoeuvring, and create robust planning systems, following the process – and thus the harrowing experience – real-life SWAT units undertake prior, during, and after every mission.
What’s included in the console version?
At launch, console players can dive into all the content PC players have been enjoying since 2023, including 20 single player and online missions for squads of up to 5 as well as 2 new missions – remastered from a pair of early access era maps – which are coming as part of the Stories of Los Sueños update. Additionally, 2024’s maritime focused DLC Dark Waters will be available including its UH-60 Support Helicopter via the game’s Deluxe Edition, plus 6 more additional levels, and a suite of cosmetics and customisations.
Console graphics and performance
Ready or Not’s demanding PC spec has understandably led to worries amongst console players that the game won’t be optimised for smooth, graphically detailed gameplay on Microsoft and Sony’s current generation. Whilst the testimony of Xbox Series S players over on Reddit hasn’t laid those concerns fully to rest, it’s reassuring, at least, to see emerging gameplay captured on PS5 and Xbox Series X showcasing a game performing smoothly whilst being visually impressive enough to not break immersion.
Two ‘new’ maps
As aforesaid, the duo of new maps incoming as part of Ready or Not’s console and PC-wide Stories of Los Sueños update aren’t entirely new but remasters of pre-alpha and early access maps. This shouldn’t be disheartening, as its clear VOID Interactive have put a ton of effort into refreshing these stages so as they feel like worthy inclusions. Grimy Mexican restaurant level Hunger Strike is condensed to approximately 10-minutes of mission time which, if interpreted correctly, is VOID’s attempt at appealing to console’s more casual nature. Near-total darkness cloaks apartment complex stage Stolen Valor, with compact spaces and elevation changes sure to provide a stern test of a SWAT team’s skill. As expected, each level is dense with world-building lore discoverable in the form of diegetic radio and video, notes, and object placement. Both stages are story-heavy, but appear to be standalone amongst Ready or Not’s overarching narrative.
Revamped difficulty selector
New options for tailoring difficulty are incoming too. As per volume 85 of VOID’s development briefing, the goal with the new difficulty system was to offer players better chances to engage with in-play opportunities which they otherwise might not encounter in standard difficulty. Hard mode is where their intention comes to fruition, with a broader spectrum of enemy behaviour, unpredictability in their tactics, and intelligence in their defence. On the flipside is a casual mode which, as the name suggests, is another nod to console player’s likelihood to be sometimes wanting to play in a more relaxed session. In casual difficulty, SWAT AI gives players more time to fire, whilst enemies – less pressurised on the whole – place a smaller amount of traps.
New guns
New weapons are included in the Stories of Los Sueños update, with each of the 4 intended to fill a niche in Ready or Not’s already expansive arsenal. Perhaps the biggest addition is the smallest package: the TRPL Pepper Ball Pistol is a compact, non-lethal first firearm capable of suppressing enemies with clouds of OC gas, or pepper spray to the layman. An integral part of a less-lethal loadout, gasmask wearing team’s looking for strategic control of an area now have a compact handheld capable of achieving that goal. The new 590M Shotgun is magazine-fed pump action, quickening up reloading time compared to the game’s cartridge loaded shotguns. The M32A1 Rotary 40mm Launcher flings flashbangs and CS gas rounds, whilst the semi-automatic MK-V Pistol is a modified 1911 frame loaded with massive .50 AE ammo.
Pre-mission loadout customisation
In Ready or Not, squad commanders possess a vast arsenal of weapons and tactical gear, with each piece of equipment categorised into lethal, non-lethal, or tactical. Utilising the game’s firing range and shoot house builds knowledge on how each piece of equipment can function as part of a wider loadout, with this information proving crucial to selecting the best equipment to complete a mission. Paying attention to pre-mission briefings, assessing the scenario, time of day, weather, whether suspects are wearing armour; all these factors and more must be considered when customising loadouts.
Loadout customisation – lethal and non-lethal
When lethal force is authorised, a bounty of armour-piercing firepower is at your disposal, but a gun’s ability to puncture armour isn’t the only consideration – ammo type, caliber, size, fire rate, recoil, these are the obvious factors to observe when choosing your submachine guns, rifles, shotguns, and pistols. Attention must be placed on over-penetration potential and attachment compatibility too. Less lethal options encourage enemy compliance, and their categories encompass physically impactful munitions, chemical disablement, distractionary devices – such as flashbangs – and Conducted Energy Weapons such as tasers.
Loadout customisation – tactical gear
Fulfilling objectives indirectly related to combat is the bevy of tactical gear at your disposal. C2 and door rams to blast through or batter down obstacles; mirror guns for intel gathering; breaching shotguns. Wearables such as flash-resistant glasses and gas masks. Armour configuration and material choice, such as kevlar, steel, or ceramic, offer differing levels of protection at the cost of manoeuvrability.
Crossplay confirmed
VOID Interactive have confirmed that crossplay will be present upon the console version’s launch, enabling all platforms to play together. Crossplay can be turned off entirely too, if you’d rather only play with those on the same platform. Keyboard and mouse configuration, after all, won’t be available on console. Also not available is cross-progression between platforms.
Missions playable solo or co-op
Pretty self-explanatory this one, but Ready or Not’s base game, DLC, and new missions can all be played either solo with an AI-controlled SWAT unit, or in teams of up to 5.
No mods on console
Console versions will not support mods. VOID Interactive haven’t hinted that this could change in the future either, with their website FAQ’s stating somewhat categorically that modding will not be supported. The biggest miss here, potentially, is the lack of access to community-made maps, although hopefully can be rectified at a later date.
Release date, price, and pre-order bonuses
Ready or Not’s console version will be released July 15th, and will be available both physically and digitally in the following versions: a Day One Standard Edition, including the base game, is priced at £44.99 / $49.99, with pre-order bonuses including three of the aforementioned new weapons: the A32A1 Grenade Launcher, 90M Shotgun, and MK-V Pistol. Ready or Not’s Deluxe Edition will cost £59.99 / $69.99.
Deluxe Edition overview
Included in the Deluxe Edition is the base game plus same pre-order bonuses as per the Standard Edition, but will also include the Dark Waters DLC, plus Home Invasion DLC and a third unannounced DLC. DLC can be purchased separately; they’ll be £7.99 / $9.99 each.
