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3DS region-lock apparently confirmed by Nintendo

No importing for you

3DS region-lock apparently confirmed by Nintendo
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3DS

A support email sent from Nintendo Japan, has apparently confirmed that the 3DS will infact be region-locked.

If so, this puts paid to any hopes of importing titles from the US or Japan, many of which may never see the light of day in Europe.

According to said email, region codes will be implanted into all 3DS titles, as well as the 3DS itself. If both sets of codes fail to correspond with each other, your game simply won't run.

Early iterations of Nintendo's dual-screened handheld came without region restrictions for games. However, both the DSi and DSi XL were locked-down. A trend which is seemingly about to continue.

Thanks to a poster recently spotted in the window of the UK retailer Gamestation, Nintendo's new portable is tipped to go on sale on March 1st.

Eight games have been confirmed by Nintendo for its Japanese launch on February 26th. These include Super Street Fighter IV, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, and footy sim Winning Eleven (Pro Evolution Soccer).

Keep your eyes set firmly on Pocket Gamer for more details.

VG247
Anthony Usher
Anthony Usher
Anthony is a Liverpool, UK-based writer who fell in love with gaming while playing Super Mario World on his SNES back in the early '90s. When he isn't busy grooming his beard, you can find him replaying Resident Evil or Final Fantasy VII for the umpteenth time. Aside from gaming, Anthony likes hiking, MMA, and pretending he’s a Viking.