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'Dead or Alive' maker denies restricting game launch due to sexism

Koei Tecmo wants you to take those claims with a grain of salt.

You know that Koei Tecmo staffer who claimed that Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 wasn't shipping to Europe or the US due to concerns about sexism? Apparently, he was speaking out of line. The developer has posted a statement saying that the rep doesn't reflect its "opinion or business strategy." In other words, it wants you to take those sexism claims with a grain of salt.

If you're looking for an official reason why the game isn't shipping outside of Asia and Japan, though, you're out of luck. Koei Tecmo will only say that it builds its fighting games while "consciously respecting" audiences worldwide. It sounds like the company is aware of worries about Xtreme 3's pandering, then, but it's stopping short of saying that these worries prompted the restricted launch. As such, it's entirely possible that there are far less dramatic factors at work, such as sales expectations. Unless there's a formal explanation, you're unlikely to get the full scoop.