No more Universal Software for Nintendo
A statement to CVG by Nintendo has ended a long era of region-free handheld gaming for Nintendo.
According to the statement, the next generation DS, known as DSi, will include region locking. That means Japanese software will not work on a US system, which won’t work on a European system, and vice-versa. The lock will apply to DSi exclusive cartridges as well as store downloads. Original Nintendo DS games will continue to work on any DSi system.
There had been some confusion as to whether Nintendo will continue its tradition of keeping the software region free. Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive VP, had led many to believe that would be so, leading to an official clarification.
Nintendo’s statement explains why:
DSi is region locked because DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region. Also because we are including parental control functionality for Nintendo DSi and each region has its unique age limit made by different independent.
Do you think this is a smart move by Nintendo? Let us know in the comment box below.
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So….It’s not being released out of Japan? I’m sorry, could you make that clearer?
Not good Nintendo, not good!
@ SLJCOAAATR / Soul
It means that games on the DSi from (Japan, America, Europe, whatever else there is) will only work with a DSi of the same region.
So this is the next DS and not just a new version, sweet, I didn’t realize. :p I have my DS everywhere and it’d be nice to have a camera with me too.
Thats too bad.
;_;
Does this mean there will be problems using homebrew software on this?
Oh, and no, I don’t like the use of this at all. I don’t need a parental control unit to tell me what I can and can’t see. It also means no importing the really cool games Nintendo for some reason only releases in Japan.
I think I’ll stick with my old, original DS, thank you very much.
Well that sucks! Well, it’s not like I’m going to go all the way to Europe to buy a game or anything.
Thanks for explaining, RAD! Like I care though. Makes no difference to me. It’s not like I can play games in different languages. Sure, there’s some Japan excusive games I’d like, but, if I bought them, I couldn’t tell what the hell I’m doing!