Wii U Will be Region-Locked, Just Like its Predecessor

Just like the 3DS and the Wii before it, Nintendo is region-locking its upcoming home console, the Wii U, so that imported games cannot be played. If you were planning on buying a tonne of Japanese games to run on your European machine, you'd better put those pennies away now.

The region-locking was confirmed in a recent issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, which states (translated) that "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."

Nintendo UK has since double-confirmed the 'feature' to various outlets when questioned further on the matter. Balls.