The interactive 3D visual novel No Mercy released on March 22 on PC via Steam. It has generated a massive backlash due to its graphic depictions of non-consensual sex and incest. Growing pressure came from the public, the scientific community, and even a UK government scientist. In response to the outrage, developer Zerat Games said they would be removing it from the platform. This decision follows the backlash of criticism. An online petition has drummed up enough opposition—more than 10,000 signatures and counting—that this game should be canceled.
No Mercy’s description on Steam includes the provocative line: “Unveil her deepest secrets, subdue her, and make all women yours,” which many found objectionable. The game, which is currently not rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) or Pan European Game Information (PEGI), remains available for purchase on Steam as of 4:30 PM EST on Thursday. Valve, the parent company of Steam, does not mandate games to be rated by these organizations for sale on its platform.
The backlash turned even sharper a few days later when UK technology secretary Peter Kyle condemned Valve for making it possible for No Mercy to be sold. In response to this lobbying pressure, Valve pulled the game from the UK version of Steam. Separately, it seems the game might have been stealth removed from Steam in Australia and Canada, likely by Valve.
“I fully understand that for many people such things may be disgusting, but during sex, people should really do what they want, as long as they don’t harm anyone,” – Zerat Games
Despite immense backlash Zerat Games held their ground. They made it clear that No Mercy is a video game and therefore should be appreciated for what it is—a fictional game. And they emphasized the need to consider human fetishes within a broader scope of phenomena. Even if these fetishes are off-putting to many, that knowledge is very important.
“If after reading [our statement] you still believe that such a game should not have been created, then we sincerely apologize to you. At the same time, we would like you to be a bit more open to human fetishes that don’t harm anyone, even though they may seem disgusting to you. This is still just a game, and although many people are trying to make it into something more, it remains and will continue to be a game.” – Zerat Games
In response to this turn of events, the developers have now announced that they’re removing No Mercy completely from Steam. This decision reflects an increasing sentiment among gamers to eliminate content that is harmful or deemed offensive. This ruling arrives against a backdrop of growing concern and debate on the potentially harmful and exploitative content presented by the video game industry.