Few tactical shooters demand as much discipline and restraint as Ready or Not. For years, its brutal, unforgiving difficulty was part of its identity—rewarding perfection, punishing hesitation, and leaving little room for newcomers to learn. That changed with the “Los Sueños Stories” update, released on July 15, 2025.
With this landmark update, VOID Interactive transformed a long-standing community request into an official, fully integrated difficulty system. Instead of simply tweaking enemy health or accuracy, the new system fundamentally reworks suspect AI behavior, SWAT team coordination, mission pressure, and player progression.
The result? A tactical experience that scales from cautious first deployments to near-simulation-level realism—without sacrificing what makes Ready or Not uniquely intense.
This guide breaks down exactly how the new difficulty system works, what changes behind the scenes, and how to use it to master Los Sueños in 2026.
The Core Difficulty Presets: A Tactical Breakdown
The official system introduces three selectable difficulty presets—Casual, Standard, and Hard—available before every mission and within Commander Mode. Each preset reshapes the battlefield in meaningful ways, affecting not just enemies, but also your AI teammates and overall mission flow.
Difficulty Overview
| Difficulty | Core Philosophy | Suspect AI & Behavior | SWAT AI Effectiveness | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Casual | Accessible & Forgiving | Lower aggression, high surrender likelihood, simplified behaviors | Teammates are cautious but forgiving; easier engagement windows | New players, map learning, low-pressure tactical roleplay |
| 🔵 Standard | Balanced & Refined | Smarter, more varied reactions; some suspects switch to semi-auto fire at range for deadly accuracy | Reliable and responsive; represents the “intended” experience | Returning EA players, mixed-skill co-op teams |
| 🔴 Hard | Brutal & Uncompromising | Extremely fast reactions, rare surrender, full squad behaviors (Rally, Support, Attack, Retreat), weapon cache usage | Highly effective but requires precise command input | Veterans, realism purists, coordinated voice-comms squads |
Each mode isn’t just harder—it’s different, forcing players to adapt their tactics rather than simply play “better.”
Beyond Presets: What Actually Changes Under the Hood
The difficulty toggle affects every layer of engagement, especially on Standard and Hard, where the most dramatic AI systems activate.
Advanced Suspect Squad Behavior
On higher difficulties, suspects no longer act as isolated threats. They function as coordinated units, capable of:
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Flanking player positions
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Providing suppressive fire
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Retreating to regroup
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Rallying allies during prolonged engagements
This transforms rooms and corridors into living combat spaces, where clearing one area doesn’t guarantee safety.
Weapon Caches & Re-Arming
Another major change is the introduction of weapon caches scattered throughout missions. Suspects can:
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Re-arm after initial contact
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Escalate engagements later in the mission
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Punish teams that assume previously cleared zones are safe
This adds tension and forces continuous security checks—true to real SWAT doctrine.
Mission-Specific Difficulty Control
One of the most underrated improvements is per-mission difficulty selection. You can:
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Practice a complex hostage rescue on Casual
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Run a high-risk meth lab raid on Hard
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Experiment with squad compositions without committing to a full campaign difficulty
Paired with the Personal Stats Dashboard, which tracks weapon proficiency and performance metrics, players can now train with intention instead of brute forcing success.
How to Change Difficulty (And Use It Strategically)
Switching difficulty is simple—but mastering it takes planning.
How to Enable a Difficulty Preset
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Enter the Mission Planning screen
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Select your desired Difficulty Preset under the new difficulty tab
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(Optional) Stack Mission Modifiers like time limits or restricted loadouts for added challenge
Pro Tip for Hard Mode Success
Hard Mode doesn’t just buff your enemies—it also improves SWAT AI effectiveness, but only if you command them correctly.
To survive consistently:
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Use precise formations like Diamond or Wedge
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Chain synchronized breach commands
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Coordinate multi-door entries to prevent flanking
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Avoid rushing—Hard punishes impatience brutally
Think like a team leader, not a lone operator.
“Los Sueños Stories” in Context: Content, Consoles, and Controversy
The difficulty system launched as part of the massive “Los Sueños Stories” update, which also delivered:
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PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X/S launch
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Full crossplay support
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Two new missions: “Stolen Valor” and “Hunger Strike”
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Four new weapons, including:
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M32A1 rotary grenade launcher
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.50 AE pistol
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However, the update wasn’t without controversy. To meet console compliance requirements, VOID Interactive made content adjustments—such as:
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Adding clothing to certain characters
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Removing dismemberment on deceased NPCs
These changes sparked heated debate within the PC community. Despite that, the difficulty system itself has been widely praised, especially by console players who previously lacked access to community mods.
It finally provides a consistent, official framework—one that challenges veterans while welcoming new officers into Los Sueños.
Final Verdict: Tactical Freedom, Officially Delivered
The official difficulty system transforms Ready or Not from a game with a single, punishing identity into a flexible tactical sandbox.
Whether you’re:
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Learning room-clearing fundamentals
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Role-playing methodical SWAT procedures
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Chasing flawless S-Ranks under extreme pressure
…the system adapts to you—without diluting the game’s core realism.
By scaling AI intelligence, coordination, and player tools instead of raw numbers, VOID Interactive has delivered what the community wanted for years: tactical freedom with real consequences.
Choose your difficulty. Command your squad.
And remember—in Los Sueños, every decision matters.
Frequently Asked Questions (2026)
Q: Can I still use mods like “No Crack” with the official difficulty system?
A: Yes. The official presets act as a baseline. PC players can still layer mods for suspect counts, damage models, or ultra-realistic tweaks.
Q: Do I need to play on Hard for all achievements?
A: Some achievements may require specific difficulty settings. Always check individual achievement descriptions.
Q: Has the original “vanilla” AI changed?
A: Yes. Standard reflects a refined version of the old experience, with smarter suspect behavior like fire-mode switching fully integrated.
Q: What’s the best way to learn Ready or Not now?
A: Start on Casual to learn maps and commands, move to Standard for the intended experience, and tackle Hard once your squad coordination is solid.
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