Dead Or Alive developer Koei Tecmo has responded to suggestions that Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3's North American and European cancellation was due to concerns about sexism.

The response was in the negative.

A rep for the Yokohama-based publisher had previously made a slightly garbled Facebook comment indicating that the game's Asia-only release was due to how Western audiences view its depiction of women.

That comment provoked a small Twitter-storm of gamers crying censorship.

But today, Koei Tecmo issued a statement refuting the comment, claiming it does not represent the company's "opinion or business strategy."

It also said that it develops its games "consciously respecting" audiences.

Xtreme 3, in which players play volleyball as women in skimpy bikinis, features new features like a suntan system, butt fighting, and a wide range of costumes.

Koei Tecmo did not offer an alternative reason for the cancellation, but it's possible that sales expectations could be behind the decision.

The DOA Xtreme series historically has not sold as well in the US or Europe compared to its home country of Japan, when population sizes are taken into account.

Meanwhile, gamers in North America and Europe seeking to look at pictures of women in bikinis can use a popular modern invention called the Internet.