A PlayStation 4 game designed to teach male players how to pick up women will no longer be released by Sony, after it was criticised for being “slimy” and promoting “toxic behaviours”.

Originally set to go on sale on Tuesday, Super Seducer features live-action sequences in which the game’s creator – a self-proclaimed “seduction guru” and pick-up artist – gropes and attempts to kiss women he has just met. These are depicted as interactions to avoid if you want to attract women, in contrast to recommended strategies such as discussing immigration and telling a woman she looks “artistic”.

Games reviewer Ellen Rose told BBC News that the game promotes the view, held by many PUAs (pick up artists), that specific behaviours and lines are guaranteed to attract women. “It’s not good to sell a product that pushes the idea that women are things that you can press the right buttons to win,” she said.

The game will still be available to buy on some other platforms apart from PlayStation 4.

Read more on this story here.

Throughout 2018, Stylist is raising the profiles of brilliant women past and present – and empowering future generations to follow their lead – with our Visible Women campaign. See more from Visible Women here.

Women’s Daily Dispatch: The news you need to know on 7/3/18