Valve deleted The game “FURSAN AL-AAQSA: the KNIGHTS OF THE AL-AAQSA MOSQUE” from the British Steam segment at the request of British police units who were involved in the removal of extremist content. The game allows players to take part in hostilities of Palestinian fighters against the Israeli military.
The developer of the game, Brazilian Nidal Nijm, released it in 2022 and recently added an update related to the attacks that took place on October 7, 2023. This update sparked criticism, particularly due to scenes depicting paragliding and armed attacks resembling real events.
The Hamas page does not directly mention the game on Steam, but visual elements such as green dressings and references to operations make the connection to Palestinian groups clear. The update trailer used controversial scenes intended to provoke discussions about freedom, according to the developer.
British police stated that their efforts since 2010 have resulted in the removal of over 310,000 units of extremist content. A majority of reports on such content come from users. The unit’s representatives declined to comment on the specific game.
This is not the first instance of Fursan Al-Aqsa facing restrictions. The game is also banned in Germany and Australia due to a lack of age rating. The developer mentioned that the cost of certification makes it difficult for small developers from Brazil to obtain the necessary approvals.
The developer thanked Valve for publishing the game on the platform but criticized what he saw as “Double Standards” by comparing his work to the mission “No Russian” from Call of Duty, noting that in such games, enemies are often portrayed one-sidedly without facing similar restrictions.
Despite debates, critics point out that the game has low performance and resembles more of a basic shooter with a provocative theme. However,