UK Officials Condemn Steam Game No Mercy Over Disturbing Content and Lack of Age Safeguards

Content Warning: This article discusses a video game containing references to explicit sexual violence, non-consensual sexual content, and other disturbing themes. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

A sexually explicit game titled No Mercy, published by Zerat Games on Valve’s Steam platform, has come under intense scrutiny in the UK for promoting violent and non-consensual sexual content while offering minimal age verification to users.

Described by its own developers as containing “graphic sex and violence, mature language, nudity,” and “unavoidable non-consensual sex,” No Mercy casts players as a male protagonist encouraged to “become every woman's worst nightmare” and “never take no for an answer.” The game also includes incest and blackmail themes.

Despite this, the only barrier to access is a basic age-gate requiring users to confirm they are over 18 and a valid payment method—conditions that critics say are alarmingly inadequate.

Government and Advocacy Response

UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has sharply criticized the game’s availability, calling it “deeply worrying” and pushing for its immediate removal from Steam.

“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 also indicated that UK media regulator Ofcom should enforce removal under the newly implemented Online Safety Act. However, Ofcom clarified that it “can’t investigate individual complaints,” raising questions about its role and responsiveness under the new legislation.

Former Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries, a key advocate for the Online Safety Act, echoed concerns:

“It’s appalling and feeds into the insidious ‘Andrew Tate’ narrative... I hate banning things, but sadly, social media has taken us to the place whereby for the protection of children, vulnerable adults, and women, we have to. This needs to be removed online, immediately.”

The game has prompted outrage from organizations like Women in Games, whose CEO Dr. Marie-Claire Isaaman issued a scathing statement:

“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.”

Women in Games is calling for Valve to immediately remove No Mercy and adopt stronger moderation policies, including a zero-tolerance approach to misogynistic content.

PEGI Ratings and the Digital Grey Area

While the PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) system applies to both physical and digital games, its implementation varies significantly depending on the platform. PEGI provides age ratings based on content such as violence, sexual themes, and language, and is commonly seen on both boxed copies and digital games across Europe.

However, platforms like Steam operate differently from console marketplaces such as PlayStation, Nintendo, or Xbox, which typically require PEGI ratings for games released in European regions. Steam does not mandate PEGI classification for all titles. Instead, it relies on developers to self-report content and utilizes a basic age-gating system with minimal enforcement.

In the case of No Mercy, the Game Ratings Authority confirmed the title had not been classified under PEGI. This is likely because the game’s developers chose not to submit it for review, which remains optional for digital-only releases on open platforms like Steam—especially in regions where PEGI compliance isn’t strictly enforced.

This regulatory gap has raised concerns about accountability in digital game distribution, as titles with extreme content can slip through without formal oversight—something much less likely to happen in the tightly controlled ecosystems of console storefronts or physical retail.

Accessibility and Age Verification Failings

One of the most pressing concerns is Steam’s minimal age verification process. Despite content warnings for "graphic sex and violence, mature language, nudity," accessing No Mercy reportedly requires nothing more than clicking a confirmation button and entering payment details.

In a test conducted by LBC, journalists were able to create a Steam account, claim to be 18+, and purchase No Mercy for £9.99 with no substantive age verification. Experts say this reveals a major gap in content controls.

With an estimated 3.5 million active Steam users in the UK, experts warn that many parents may not realize how little oversight exists on the platform.

Global Reaction and Current Status

In response to media backlash, No Mercy was quietly removed from Steam in some countries, including the UK, Australia, and Canada, as of April 10. However, it remains available in other regions.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) in the U.S. has called for global removal, citing risks to minors and vulnerable users. Haley McNamara, VP at NCOSE said:

“Sexual violence is not a game—it’s a grave reality that devastates lives. Platforms like Steam must stop profiting from content that not only glorifies abuse and exploitation but outright encourages it.”

Collective Shout, which first voiced concern about the game in Australia, also launched a Change.org petition to push for its global removal. Caitlin Roper, Campaigns Manager at Collective Shout said:

"Steam is complicit. In hosting this rape simulation game, they are endorsing crimes of violence against women.” 

She argued that by treating rape as entertainment, "No Mercy" puts all women at risk.

Steam’s parent company Valve has not issued a public response, despite multiple media inquiries. Historically, Valve has taken a “hands-off” approach to content unless it violates laws or is deemed trolling.