The publisher of the Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball series, Koei Tecmo, has finally commented on controversial post on its Facebook page. The post implied the company was afraid of feminist game criticism, and that’s why they didn’t want to localize their game for Western markets.
The comment generated a backlash against perceived censorship from Western gamers, though the decision whether or not to localize a game is a complicated one.
Now, Koei Tecmo has finally made an official comment:
Official statement from Koei Tecmo Games #KTfamily pic.twitter.com/4G2kV4hf7I
— KOEI TECMO AMERICA (@KoeiTecmoUS) December 1, 2015
It seems that the publisher is backing away from the Facebook fiasco, but the game is still not planned for an American release. It’s likely that this has little to do with Western criticism of the game, and more to do with the market.
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 came out in 2006. Despite improving on the first game’s graphics, it received mediocre reviews, with IGN and Gamespot giving it a 6.4/10 and a 5.9/10 respectively. The expense of localizing a game with such a niche audience, when its nine-year-old predecessor has been largely forgotten, is no doubt something Koei Tecmo took into account when it made the decision.
Fans of Japanese games are no stranger to the pains of waiting for localization, as any fan of Mother 3 can attest. The usually year-long waits between a Japanese release and a North American one make this whole controversy over a Facebook comment seem way blown out of proportion.
You can read Patrick Klepek’s write-up at Kotaku if you’re thirsty for more details on the drama.
