Last week, publisher Koei Tecmo made a surprisingly frank admission on Facebook that the upcoming Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 wouldn't be released in the EU or US because it was worried about how Western audiences would react to the way the game depicts women. Given that it features a sun-tanning system, "butt fights" between bikini-clad ladies, and a horrifyingly ambitious physics model, it's not all that surprising Koei Tecmo spoke up.

"Do you know many issues happening in video game industry with regard to how to treat female in video game industry?" read part of the now-deleted Facebook post. "We do not want to talk those things here. But certainly we have gone through in last year or two to come to our decision."

The publisher has since taken to Twitter to distance itself from the Facebook post, claiming that the Koei Tecmo employee posting on Facebook was speaking out of line.

The comments "only reflect that individual's opinion and not the opinion or business strategy of Koei Tecmo," reads the statement. "We remain focused on delivering the best in fighting entertainment to our fans around the world, while consciously respecting and strategising to support the different global audiences."

Official statement from Koei Tecmo Games regarding DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme 3. #DOAX3 #KTfamily pic.twitter.com/5CVfsHYEgy — KOEI TECMO EUROPE (@koeitecmoeurope) December 1, 2015

The publisher's backtracking is odd given Dead or Alive Xtreme 3's content. However, that Koei's statement says it's "consciously respecting" audiences does at least suggest it's aware of the game's issues, even if it doesn't go as far as to say that's why the game isn't getting a Western release. For now, Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 remains in development, but for Japan and Asia only.

Earlier this year, Koei Tecmo ported Dead or Alive 5: Last Round to PC, but warned potential modders that they better show "good moral and manner" when making mods in order for the publisher to release future games on the platform.

At the time, Koei Tecmo producer Yosuke Hayashi said: "Our characters, male and female alike, are created in a fantasy setting and are using extraordinary abilities to compete with each other in a clearly light-hearted, over-the-top universe," he said. "Their abilities are very balanced and we want to present all of them as dynamic, strong, sexy, and confident."

"What is important to remember is that Dead or Alive is a series developed in Japan, where the interpretation of beauty is very different to that of Europe or the US," he added.