What does a region locked 3DS mean?

A region locked 3DS means that your Nintendo 3DS system is restricted to playing games from a specific geographical region, usually where you purchased the system from, and cannot play games from other regions. This region lock is a mechanism implemented by Nintendo to control the distribution and playability of games across different regions, ensuring that games are played within their intended markets.

Understanding Region Locks

The region lock on a 3DS is determined by the system’s firmware version, which can be checked in the settings menu, and is usually denoted by a specific character at the end of the version number, indicating the region it belongs to. This lock applies to all 3DS games, but not to DS games, which are generally region-free and can be played on any 3DS system.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Can a 3DS be region unlocked? No, the 3DS is designed to be region locked, but some DS games are region free and can be played on any 3DS!
2. Are all 3DS games region locked? Yes, all 3DS games are region locked, but DS games are mostly region free.
3. Can I play USA games on a Japanese 3DS? No, due to region locking, Japanese 3DS systems can only play games from the Japanese region.

Region Locking and Games

4. Will Japanese 3DS games work in the US? No, Japanese 3DS games are region locked and will not work on a US 3DS.
5. Can UK 3DS games work in the US? No, UK 3DS games are region locked to the European region and will not work on a US 3DS.
6. Are DS games region locked? Most DS games are region free, but some DSi games may be region locked.

Bypassing Region Locks

7. Can you get past region lock? Technically, yes, through methods like using proxies or VPNs, but these methods are against Nintendo’s terms of service.
8. How do I bypass region lock? You can use a VPN to mask your IP address and appear as if you’re from a different region, but this is not recommended as it violates Nintendo’s terms.

Consequences of Hacking

9. Can a hacked 3DS still play cartridges? Yes, a hacked 3DS can still play cartridges, but hacking your 3DS can lead to your Nintendo account being banned.
10. Is it illegal to pirate 3DS games? Yes, pirating 3DS games is illegal and against Nintendo’s terms of service.

Additional Information

11. Is the 3DS eShop still open? No, the 3DS eShop closed on March 27th, 2023, and no new purchases can be made.
12. What is the minimum age for 3DS? The 3D feature on the 3DS is recommended for children 7 and older, and parents can restrict access to 3D mode for younger children using Parental Controls.
13. Can you play non 3DS games on a 3DS? Yes, you can play most Nintendo DS games on your 3DS, except those that use the GBA Slot.
14. Can English 3DS play Japanese games? Yes, English 3DS systems can play Japanese DS games, but not DSi or 3DS games due to region locking.
15. Do iPhones get region locked? No, iPhones do not have a region lock like some other devices, but certain features or apps may be region restricted.