CW: This story contains references to extreme sexual violence – reader discretion advised.
UK technology secretary Peter Kyle has slammed Valve’s PC storefront, Steam, for hosting a sexually explicit visual novel in which the protagonist engages in non-consensual sexual contact, sexual violence, rape, and incest.
Zerat Games’ No Mercy is clearly marked as containing “graphic sex and violence, mature language, nudity, and graphic [sex acts],” as well as incest, blackmail, and “unavoidable non-consensual sex,” but is not protected by age-verification checks other than instructing players that by “clicking the View Page button, [they] affirm that [they] are at least eighteen years old.” As a premium game, it also requires a card to purchase it with.
“We expect every one of those [tech] companies to remove content as soon as they possibly can after being made aware of it,” Kyle told LBC. “That’s what the law requires, it is what I require as a secretary of state, and it is certainly how we expect platforms who operate and have the privilege of access to British society, and British economy, to do.”
Kyle suggested that media and communications watchdog Ofcom should have the offending game removed, although Ofcom said it “can’t investigate individual complaints.”
“Ofcom is the regulator,” Mr Kyle said. “They are tasked with enforcing and they will make the judgment as to whether content is removed in an appropriate time.”
The Game Ratings Authority – formally known as the Video Standards Agency, which administers the PEGI system in the UK – said: “Game ratings provide parents and players information about the content of video games. In the UK, physical game releases must carry a PEGI age rating by law. Digital games are not legally required to carry an age rating, but the majority of leading stores use the trusted PEGI age rating process to provide confidence to consumers.
“Although games on Steam can optionally apply for a PEGI age rating via our classification process, it is not mandated by the platform prior to a game’s release.
“The Games Rating Authority has not classified this game and has not been approached to classify it since its release.”
LBC reports it first flagged the game to Steam five days ago but, at the time of writing, No Mercy remains available on the Steam storefront in the UK.
In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, CEO of Women in Games Dr Marie-Claire Isaaman added: “Women in Games is appalled by recent reports surrounding a Steam game, which encourages players to ‘become every woman’s worst nightmare’ and ‘never take no for an answer.’
“The fact that a game like this is available on Steam – one of the world’s largest gaming platforms – is utterly unacceptable. It sends a clear and distressing message: that violence against women is not only tolerable, but playable. That message has no place in our industry, our communities, or our society.
“This is exactly why Women in Games exists. Our mission is to challenge the harmful biases, systemic barriers, and cultural toxicity that continue to drive women and marginalized genders out of games — whether as players, developers, or leaders.”
“We call on Valve Corporation, the owners of Steam, to act urgently. This game must be removed. Stronger content moderation policies must be implemented. And a zero-tolerance stance on misogyny and hate must be visibly enforced.”
We’ve reached out to Valve for comment and will update as/when we receive a response.