Cognition Dissemination: The Potentially Region-Free NX

Nintendo has never been great on the topic of region restriction, but there was also a time where it wasn’t an active hindrance to their reputation — especially on consoles. Their older set-top systems were on the market in a time where the gaming audience didn’t know about the benefits a region-free console could provide, and their competitors’ systems were similarly restricted. Those attitudes started changing when people realized the ease that came with play games not released in different regions, especially if they were already released in English in America for Europeans to import, or vice versa.

Attitudes began seriously shifting after Sony’s PlayStation 3 released, the first successful (so to speak) region-free console. Then-engineer Ken Kutaragi may have stuffed the system with a plethora of features to a fault, particularly for Sony’s bottom line, but those who purchased it early in its life were satisfied with the product. It also changed gamers’ perception of region restrictions, as owners had the option of importing games from anywhere. Despite publishers having the option to region-lock any game, fans made such an understandably large stink about Atlus doing this to Persona 4 Arena that no one has attempted it again.

Nintendo, however, really started irking people when they stripped the feature from their handheld line. All of the Game Boy systems and the Nintendo DS didn’t have any region restrictions, allowing anyone to play games regardless of region. The restrictions started with the DSi line, and though it wasn’t a big deal at the time due to the lack of exclusive titles for that system, some feared it was an ominous foreboding their future lineup. Sadly, they were right. And the New 3DS family didn’t reverse this position.

In keeping tradition with previous Nintendo consoles, Wii U sadly joined it. This was mainly upsetting for Americans, as Nintendo of America got into the habit of leaving some Wii games in Japan near the end of its life. While the efforts of Operation Rainfall got the three of them localized (though two came through XSeed), having a region-free system without hacking it would have been far less hassle. Nintendo sticking to their typical methods was unwelcome, despite the company being better with bringing titles over on Wii U and 3DS.

Though Nintendo employees and CEO Satoru Iwata have been asked about making future systems region-free, they’ve never provided an answer beyond the company keeping it in mind — which might as well not be an answer. But we recently saw signs that this might be changing.

Iwata addressed the topic of region-locking during Nintendo’s recent financial briefing. Though you can write off the 3DS and Wii U ever receiving it, Iwata revealed that the company is optimistic about its removal for their next gaming platform: Nintendo NX. It’s still unknown as to whether the NX will be a console, or handheld, or both, and we won’t find out for a while. But it’s nonetheless encouraging that Nintendo is apparently seriously thinking about this. That’s good, because they’re running out of viable excuses for keeping it, especially when their competitors have done away with it.

It’s no coincidence that this region-locking trend with Nintendo’s handhelds started with the emergence of their digital storefronts. It seems Nintendo believes customers from one region could use a store from another region to potentially purchase cheaper products, and locked the system to prevent reverse importation. It’s likely maintained through pressure from fellow Japanese companies, who often take steps to curtail this when the product being released in western markets includes the same content as their typically-more-expensive Japanese counterparts. (Anime fans know about this all too well.) There’s no evidence proving this is a huge issue, but they keep doing it anyway.

Sticking to now just makes them look “behind the times” in another way. Sony’s last handheld, Vita, is region-free, but receives plenty of support from niche Japanese developers thanks to its otaku appeal. That system also has a digital storefront. Nintendo already has trouble receiving third-party support for their platforms, especially consoles, and perhaps they feel this probably won’t help. Since many third-party companies put their games on Sony’s systems, too, there should be no problem with them unlocking it, besides perplexing stubbornness.

Sadly, I wouldn’t be surprised if some companies used this to get out of supporting Nintendo. This will all boil down to whether they can cultivate good third-party support with the NX, which could be far easier said than done.

While Iwata’s comment still counts as a PR statement, it was at least encouraging to hear about its potential removal from NX. But after all this time, no one will buy this until it actually happens, so here’s hoping.