Publisher THQ Nordic has spoken out about the recent Metro Exodus marketing disaster. The game was removed from Steam earlier this week because of an exclusivity deal with Epic Games.

According to the publisher, the removal of the game from Steam was a decision made by THQ Nordic sister company Koch Media. The company was acquired by THQ Nordic last year.

Despite acquiring the company along with the Metro brand, THQ Nordic states Metro is still Koch Media's intellectual property. The decision to engage in a strategic partnership with Epic Games for an exclusivity deal was entirely made by Koch Media, and reportedly not by THQ Nordic. Publisher Deep Silver is also a Koch Media owned company.