Famitsu: Wii U region-lock confirmed

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Famitsu no. 1242, page 10:

???Wii U???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

"What can be played on the Wii U is restricted by a region-lock feature; software not sold in the same region cannot be played."

/facepalm

[MightyJordan]

Let's hope Microsoft don't make the same mistake with the next Xbox. They underestimate how important a lack of region protection is; it allows us to import and play games we can't get in certain regions (or in some cases, get games a lot sooner, due to stupid release delays, like Rocksmith: finally being released in Europe this week after being out in America for a year). If every single game on consoles were released worldwide around the same date (give or take about a week, which is currently the case with AAA titles like the FIFA and Call of Duty games), then I wouldn't care about region protection.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

I'm expecting PS4 and Xbox (Insert Next Version Name Here) to also do the same.

It would be nice, and a boon, to any console that did this, but not keeping my hopes up.

Publishers still want to control where and cost unique to each market.

[Blackhearted]

Oh boy, here we go. Another thread about region locking where people will be whining and crying cause they can't go out and buy games they're incapable of understanding.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Oh boy, here we go. Another thread about region locking where people will be whining and crying cause they can't go out and buy games they're incapable of understanding.

Awfully close minded of you considering there is even USA titles that do not get released in Europe.

[The Teej]

Awfully close minded of you considering there is even USA titles that do not get released in Europe.

And visa-versa, as well (or at least with extreme delays - seeing Joystiq review Xenoblade Chronicles over a year after it was released in Europe was puzzling until I realised the states only -just- got it, and I cringed).

[migo]

Let's hope Microsoft don't make the same mistake with the next Xbox.

Oh they will, they're making that mistake with Windows 8. In general I quite liked it, but being in Canada and finding so much software just isn't available outside the US (for no good reason!) has killed it for me.

In all likelihood, the next console I get will be the Ouya, and it'll be for that reason exactly.

[moloko]

Oh boy, here we go. Another thread about region locking where people will be whining and crying cause they can't go out and buy games they're incapable of understanding.

some people can speak more than one language. My kids speak 3 right now and learning a 4th. (english, tagalog, chinese, and learning spanish). Region locking helps only the business's not the consumer.