Cheesemeister
Member
In 2013, 2014, and 2015, we campaigned to have Nintendo remove region-locking on the 3DS and Wii U.
Together, we've made great progress in getting our message across to Nintendo. Instead of the dismissiveness we heard from Iwata at E3 2013, now we're hearing positive consideration, at least for the NX.
NOW is the time to remind Nintendo that we don't want NX to be saddled with region-locking. The actual decision will likely be made very soon.
How can I help?
0. Subscribe to this thread!
1. Post your own messages and drawings on the Miiverse Nintendo@E3 2016 Community asking for region-free consoles! Post links in this thread; Miiverse posts listed in this thread will be added to the OP.
2. Yeah these Miiverse posts asking for an end to region-locking! Updated regularly.
Dear Nintendo, it's time to #EndRegionLocking. Please let us expand our gaming horizons while putting more money in the pockets of you and other developers. Let us buy games on vacation and for family members overseas. Let us buy games we are unable to otherwise. Don't turn down extra sales, say yes to our money. If not on 3DS & Wii U, then don't miss the chance to make NX region-free. Thank you.
Day 1:
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z53LEV6A
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z54Gu2cg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z53_62QQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z54hFcKA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z54kktlA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z54fsImg
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z55hzclQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z55AT7zw
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z54X5oSQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z55vV97g
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z56CLdHA
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z557DtfQ
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADV0Z5yNwpEg
3. Post on Twitter and other social media under the hashtags #EndRegionLocking and #NintendoRegionFree.
Post on Nintendo's official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nintendo
Tweet at:
@Nintendo
@NintendoAmerica
@NintendoEurope
@NintendoUK
@NintendoES
@NintendoFrance
@‏NintendoDE
@‏NintendoItalia
@‏NintendoPT
@‏NintendoAT
@‏NintendoBE_NL
@‏NintendoNL
@‏NintendoCH_DE
@‏NintendoRU
@NintendoAUNZ
4. Follow @EndRegionLock on Twitter!
5. Please sign this petition! Now with over 36,000 signatures!
6. Please provide media coverage, or ask your favorite gaming journalist for coverage! We need as many people to ask Nintendo about this at E3 as possible.
7. Ask your gaming friends for their support in this campaign! Talk about this issue on your gaming podcast! Do YouTube videos! Cross-post this on other forums!
8. Don't be a Debbie Downer and say that it doesn't affect you or you don't care about this issue. Even if you don't import games now, you may want to for some future game. You, as a consumer, don't want to be prevented from having the chance to buy and play any game of your choosing.
9. If you can help us out with a Facebook page or with a website, please contact us!
10. Talk about the games you've imported that you wouldn't have been able to play had there been region-locking.
11. Ask your favorite publishers to talk to Nintendo about going region-free.
FAQ: Can region-locking be removed from the Wii U and 3DS?
We are operating on the assumption that it can be removed through a simple firmware update.
Previously...
May 2015: Iwata updates position on region-locking at Nintendo investor Q&A
Q7: When you were asked if you would lift the region locks at the Financial Results Briefing six months ago, you answered that you would take it into consideration. Please explain the current situation.
A7: Iwata: My understanding is that it is not realistic on the existing video game systems because unlocking them after they are already on the market poses a number of hurdles. On the other hand, regarding NX, we understand that many consumers hold such opinions and such suggestions exist in the market, and although we have nothing concrete at the moment, we are internally analyzing what hurdles exist to lifting region locks. That is the situation right now. We acknowledge your request, and I personally want to give it positive consideration.
October 2014: Iwata addresses region-locking at Nintendo investor Q&A
Q4: Currently, Nintendo hardware and games are region-locked in territories throughout the world, so that a game purchased in one region cannot be played in another. Are there plans to do away with that restriction and unlock them?
A4: Iwata: There have been various conditions at play in the game business, such as a history of localization taking an extremely long time, a variety of marketing constraints and circumstances in each country, and the fact that the license needed to sell games have not always been granted globally. In a sense, the region-lock has existed more for reasons having to do with the seller than the consumers. That has been the situation throughout the history of video game systems, and as for what should be done going forward, there may be advantages for the consumers and also for us if they were unlocked. Conversely, unlocking them would mean having to resolve different issues that would subsequently arise. While we have not decided whether we will unlock them or not, we do recognize that it is an issue that needs to be considered in the future.
E3 2015: #NintendoRegionFree 2015: Project NX
E3 2014: #NintendoRegionFree 2014 STARTS NOW!
E3 2013: Let's convince Nintendo to go region-free!
Satoru Iwata said: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.
I hope that game fans can understand that the industry isn’t doing this solely out of business ego. There are some reasons behind it.
This was obviously an unsatisfactory answer. Region-locking IS a restriction, and such an anti-consumer practice has no place in luxury products. Other platform holders have dropped region-locking despite the same cultural, legal, and ratings issues.
What we want is to be able to play legally-purchased games for Nintendo platforms purchased from anywhere in the world, irregardless of any hardware region setting. If parental controls are a concern, access to out-of-region titles can simply be disabled by default and enabled by adults.
My body is ready for region-free gaming. Is yours?