Immersive Experience of Ready or Not - Unreal Engine 5's Advancements in Next-Generation Realism
Ready or Not: A Tactical Shooter's Grand Evolution on Consoles
Get ready for the next evolution of Void Interactive's acclaimed tactical shooter, Ready or Not. This game, renowned for its realistic art direction, is gearing up to hit the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. With a major upgrade to Unreal Engine 5, impressive AI advancements, and a focus on level design and creative process innovation, this title promises an unprecedented gaming experience.
We caught up with Mark Ranson, Art Director, and Sean Gorman, Lead Designer, to delve into the challenges, triumphs, and secrets behind this upcoming phase of development for Ready or Not.
Ready or Not aspires to be authentic without inducing boredom. As Mark Ranson puts it, "We take realism and bump it up about 30 percent to make it interesting and engaging." Striking a balance between immersive realism and imaginative design is Void's signature approach and core game philosophy.
"It's a fictional world", Sean Gorman explains, "but the narrative and gameplay experiences need to ring true." Both art and level design collaborate to achieve this delicate blend of realism and creativity. The process starts with a shared vision, in which top leaders from different departments come together to discuss creative aspirations. Then, level designers create prototypes, almost like storyboards, while the teams iterate fast and make strategic decisions, ensuring rules are bent only as far as reality allows.
The shift to consoles, alongside the transition to Unreal Engine 5, has brought new challenges and opportunities for Void's art and game design teams. "There were definitely issues," Mark admits, "but the overall gains were worth it." While not every cutting-edge technology in UE5 was embraced, the team carefully weighed the pros and cons to determine what would benefit their game the most.
The move to UE5 has not only brought aesthetic improvements, but it has significantly changed the content creation process. "Even since December 2023", says Sean, "we've seen how we build levels transform dramatically. We now know what works, and we've got analytics to back it up, making us faster and better."
Ready or Not's PC players will also experience the fruits of this development phase. "We've revisited every level," says Mark, "We've added new content, tweaked lighting, and revamped assets where necessary. As we've grown as artists, so has the quality bar."
Optimization has been a focal point of this console transition, ensuring stable gameplay across all platforms. From AI logic to weapon handling, every aspect of Ready or Not is undergoing refinement within the realism-focused framework. "The consistency across the game is crucial", explains Sean. "If you shoot a TV, it should explode. Other physics actors behaving the same across levels maintains that sense of immersion."
Revamping the AI has been a major focus, with the team investing six months in refining non-player character behavior. "We wanted to eliminate moments that break immersion", says Sean. This work was conducted in collaboration with a global team, a testament to Void's adaptable, trust-based culture that enables remote work.
When it comes to AI advancements, Epic Games' agentic AI–seen in Fortnite's Darth Vader AI–could play a role in future Ready or Not updates. This cutting-edge tech, featuring realistic and unpredictable AI behaviors, aligns perfectly with Ready or Not's pursuit of realism and immersion.
Slated for release on July 15th, the console version of Ready or Not will also introduce a new difficulty system designed to help newcomers ease into the game while providing a challenge for experienced PC players. Other additions include new weapons, levels, and AI behaviors, all set to enhance the player's experience.
Void's technical evolution is intentional yet revolutionary. The studio actively engages with Epic Games regarding new tech and keeps a close eye on forthcoming Unreal Fest releases. Future updates are expected to explore AI experimentation while preserving the game's commitment to realism and immersion.
For more information, visit the Void Interactive website.
- Void Interactive's upcoming tactical shooter, Ready or Not, aims to provide an unparalleled gaming experience with an upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 and a focus on level design and creative process innovation.
- Mark Ranson, Art Director of Ready or Not, describes their approach as taking realism and enhancing it by about 30% to create an interesting and engaging gaming environment.
- Sean Gorman, Lead Designer, explains that while Ready or Not is a fictional world, it must still feel authentic, a delicate blend achieved through collaboration between art and level design teams.
- The shift to consoles and the transition to Unreal Engine 5 has brought new challenges and opportunities for Void's art and game design teams, with the team carefully evaluating which technologies would benefit their game the most.
- The move to UE5 has significantly changed the content creation process, leading to improved levels and more efficient workflow, as Sean Gorman noted in December 2023.
- Ready or Not's PC players can look forward to revamped levels, new content, and improvements in lighting and assets, reflecting the growth of the team as artists.
- Optimization has been a key focus during the console transition, ensuring consistent gameplay across all platforms, with every aspect undergoing refinement, from AI logic to weapon handling, to maintain immersion.
