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Amid the controversy surrounding Xbox One and its draconian DRM policies (which were recently dropped due to the severe backlash from the gaming community), many fans have begun petitioning Nintendo to cease region locking its consoles. While we may not know just why the Big N insists on continuing the practice, IGN got to speak with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata during this year’s E3 and touched briefly upon the subject.
According to Iwata, the reason Nintendo continues to region lock its hardware is because each territory has its own legal restrictions to abide.
“From some people’s perspective, it might seem like a kind of restriction. However, we hope people can appreciate the fact that we’re selling our products worldwide. There are many different regions around the world, and each region has its own cultural acceptance and legal restrictions, as well as different age ratings. There are always things that we’re required to do in each different region, which may go counter to the idea that players around the world want the freedom to play whatever they want. “
It should be reiterated that this conversation occurred during E3 this past June, before Microsoft reversed its controversial stance on digital rights management following a major public outcry. With that decision, Nintendo now remains the only major console manufacturer to region locks its platforms.
What’s your take on region locking? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Source: IGN
