Steam removes the game with “great focus” on sexual abuse after the British presentation

Summary

Steam has removed a game that focused strongly on sexual abuse and “male dominance” from its stores.
The game, which will not be named, was the subject of intensive review both publicly and politically.
Its creators have then removed the game from the remaining stores that had not banned the title.

Following a call from the British organization, Women in Games, as well as Britain's home secretary Yvette Cooper, Steam has chosen to remove a game that strongly focused on “male dominance” and sexual abuse from its store.

The title, which Thegamer will not name, is an adult visual novel that has potential players who respond to her mother's business by “claiming” her for her own. In addition, it encourages players to “never take” no “for an answer.”

At that time, CEO urged Dr. Marie-Claire Isaaman Valve to “act urgently” to remove the game as the title “is not only difficult and dangerous, but also actively promotes the dehumanization of women and girls”, according to a statement obtained by video games.

Separately, Cooper urged platforms to “show some responsibility”, per LBC.

After these calls, the game was quickly removed from the British store, along with Canada and Australia. In Australia, it was drawn to be “unclassified”, per LBC, and in Canada it was removed after less than 24 hours, according to the same report.

Since Valve's store front does not explicitly require ESRB or PEGI ratings, games can be made available for download that would otherwise not be published anywhere else. In other words, it is not a mandate. As long as they follow the rules described on the company's on board page, the games are almost never at risk of being drawn.

Among the rules stated include prohibiting publication of content that is “patent offensive or intended to shock or disgust viewers” or “content that violates the laws in all jurisdiction where it will be available”, among other guidelines.

Its creators have a different picture of the situation

It is unclear if the game was drawn to have driven off the listed prohibited themes or because of intensive public and political review or a combination of both.

After the game's removal, its creator took to Steam to issue a statement. There they announced that they would pull the game completely from the remaining stores that had not already banned the game.

“We do not intend to fight the whole world, and specifically we do not want to cause any problems for steam and valve,” the statement is partly read. “If, after reading the above, you still believe that such a game should not have been created, we sincerely apologize to you.

“At the same time, we want you to be a little more open to human fetishes who don't hurt anyone, even though they may seem disgusting for you. This is still just a game, and even if many try to make it something more, it remains and will continue to be a game.”

From this writing, Valve has not commented on its decision or just how it was ever allowed on the platform.