According to French site PS3Gen it appears that the latest software development kit (and by extension, the latest firmware) allows developers to region lock their games to individual countries. The option’s always been in there to lock games to a region, but it’s never been used, despite Midway thinking about it for Stranglehold.
It’s not clear what the image is from below, it could just be the Netflix application which doesn’t run on a European PS3 anyway, but it looks like the site has delved into the SDK a little and the results could be interesting for those that bought a PS3 based on its region free gaming capabilities.
From what we can gather from the French, it looks like there might be different regions that drill down deeper than just the US, Europe and Asia. The site mentions the three we know about, but then has a ‘region 4’ for England (yes, I know) and others for Mexico, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Russia. There are 31 potential regions.
PS3Gen has another screengrab on the site that hints at a ‘region deny’ flag for games, and then shows a range of allowed regions.
We’ll keep an eye on this one.
PhilipJWitow
I really hope this doesn’t actually catch on. One of the best things about the PS3 is the fact it’s region-free for games. Also, I have a Japanese PS3 (Back in the day they were much much cheaper than buying it locally), and it would suck to not be able to play local games because of a Japan region-lock. :(
FluBBa
Lol, just because some posted a picture of them trying to run Netflix on their non American PS3 the whole internetz is going “Oooh Noes, region lock, FUUUUUU Sony”….
It’s been there since day one, just no games use it.
Juelz345
You did read the article right?
No? Ok, go ahead and come back.
Back? Good. So now you see the concern is that games, not Netflix or other XMB Apps, GAMES, could potentially be region locked. The article even says that the option has been there.
I’d tried running netflix from outside the US and and i can get it, see the movies and everything, but when i go to play i get a message that looks nothing like the one in the image above.
FluBBa
The region lock for software is not _where_ you are but what model of the PS3 you have, I have a European PS3 and I can’t start the Netflix application. I get the same message but in Swedish.
Cray2k
I really hope this dosn’t happen, I’ve got an American PS3 (I didn’t check it when I bought it) and all of my games are PAL, This message comes up however when ever I put a PAL PS2 game in, I just hope that’s where the message is from
Crazy_Del
Please do keep an eye out for this one as I only have 2 imported games – God of War Collection from USA and Demon Souls from Japan. I finished GoW but barely started Demon Souls!
kivi95
old news?Sony have already said that it was just for Netflix not games.
Juelz345
I don’t think that message is from Netflix. At least the message i get is very different.
Broonba
Personally, i can’t see the region lock happening……..that would just be a mental decision, if it happened.
AnimaOnline
According to a couple of users from different forums and blogs, the image is actually what shows when you try to open Netflix from outside of the US or Canada. Blu-ray region locking, which is what everyone fears, is not what this is.
Juelz345
I live out side the US and i can get into nextflix, create a movie play list and everything. But when i go to play a movie, i get an error that looks nothing like the one in the image, so i doubt this is the netflix app.
Pedromr
Very bad, indeed. The abscence of region lock, along with mgs4, was a dealbreaker when I decided to buy a PS3 instead of a 360. Hope they don’t really start locking games now, after years of good sells with region free games.
Boomshanks
If this is true it’s absolutely terrible. Games are freaking expensive in Holland which is why I import everything from England. Can’t really think of any reasons for Sony to do this. I won’t buy games for the full price in Holland if they do this. It just means I have to wait a lot longer
solidsteven
how much does it cost for a game in holland?
Boomshanks
€65,- for about half a year after the release. Prices don’t really go down fast here
Pedromr
Same thing in Brazil (or even worse)… PS3 games are usually €110 for the first 18 months… After that the price drops… To €80… Almost everyone I know buy games from UK.
maximilianoo
I hope developers don’t fancy this. I live in Brazil, and.. well, you get the drill, we don’t exist (ps3 has just been release “officially” here under ridiculous price). And I always import games, US, UK and HK regions usually, so it would kill PS3 gaming for me and any brazilian.
I don’t even have the option to not update the firmware, as this feature was already included in past firmwares.