Microsoft answers the question of Xbox One region locks

As the details of the Xbox One continue to trickle out following the May 21, 2013 unveiling and the subsequent deluge of facts (some real, some not),digital trends have one more piece of information to confirm about the console: the Xbox One will still feature regional locks.

[jay2]

PMSL! we don't need this stuff anymore. Sony got it right.

[abzdine]

it's worse and worse with this VCR! (i cant call it console)

[Mounce]

Then use this instead:

https://twitter.com/KazHira...

[slapedurmomsace]

@abzdine...lets give it some credit, it looks more like a 2yr old Direct TV HDDVR than a VCR. Acts a whole like one too. Well minus the DVR.

[amiga-man]

Did M$ have a competition to see how many anti consumer ideas they could fit into the xbox one?

Jeez if they dig their hole any deeper the only chance they have of making money from this stupid device is if they strike oil.

[mushroomwig]

Hold your horses, we don't know everything about the PS4 yet. For all we know it could also be region locked.

[Blastoise]

Could be, I doubt it though.

The Vita and PS3 were both region free.

Fingers crossed anyway, region free consoles are great

[abzdine]

Vita isn't region locked and Vita PS4 will support remote play. you cannot have region free remote play and locked for normal use.

[strigoi814]

It seems like you never owned sony playstation ever since..sony never did region lock the ps3 before so why bother for ps4..

[SecondSon]

Why would they region lock games? This way Japanese exclusives can be imported by fans making them a couple extra bucks.

[rainslacker]

So? It'd be a con for the PS4 if it has region locks as well.

Sony will probably like they do for the Vita and PS3, leave it up to the publishers. That to me seems like a good compromise, and not many games bothered to use region locking...only one I know is P4:Arena, and it got some hate over it.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

I believe PS4 may follow Vita and PS3. No region lock on console or games, but the PSN region have some restrictions (like matching content with Store), no big deal.

Back on topic. Quite frankly, I don't see much of a problem here. 10 years ago we would have to wait A LOT for games cross the ocean, but this is now much rarer. Also you had all those different versions for each region, but no longer happening that often either. Today the only concern is Japan, where some games, mostly exclusive ones, never get released elsewhere, but quite frankly this not XBox territory, there's hardly anything exclusive for MS there.

So sure, better if not region locked, but as the industry is going today, I don't think it's a deal breaker for any console, specially not for Xbox One, just a little nuisance if something appears and you have to wait some six monthes.

[GameSpawn]

The PS3 was never region locked, however it was "display locked".

What is display locked...well there were still two types of PS3's in the world: NTSC & PAL

Of course, this only matters on standard definition TVs (NTSC: 480 line interlaced; PAL: 576 line interlaced) and who the hell doesn't have a TV capable of at least 720P at this point.

So, the PS3 was only limited in what standard definition TVs you could connect it to, meaning if you imported a PAL PS3 into an NTSC region or vice-verse you MUST connect to an HDTV. The PS4 will likely have the same limitation. But since games aren't region locked, why may I ask would you find any reason to import a PS3/PS4 into a country with mismatched SDTV standards?

[nix]

only bluray/dvd movies are region locked that's because it doesn't come under gaming. games are not region locked.

[badz149]

you're trying too hard there, buddy! it's still surprising on why M$ still region locking their games like Nintendo.

the PS4 will be Region free just like the PS3 and just like the Vita. for a multilingual gamer like myself, it's a blessing. I buy imported Japanese games all the time and that's a HUGE advantage because localization always take forever for many games! recent case in example, Ni no Kuni and One Piece Pirate Warrior which took a year!

I bought OP Pirate Warriors at launch with the special Edition PS3 too and just last month bought Pirate Warriors 2 for my Vita! Freaking #2 already when the English version of the 1st on just came out! lucky US over here, local stores almost always get their hands on latest release from around the world be it Japan or US or Europe! don't know how awesome their supply chain is to enable them to achieve such feat but Region free gaming is the reason this is possible in the 1st place!

[1Victor]

@ Badz Congratulations That PS3 Look Golden (No Pun Intended) I Hope You Enjoy It And Keep It For Years To Come .It Would Have Been A Surprise If The Xbox One Wasn't Region Locked Since You Have To Use You LOCAL Cable Company For The TV Part

[Why o why]

hmmm. This isn't much of a big deal for me personally as I only ever imported 1 title this gen, unreal tournament NA version to Europe. That being said it seems MS really is being a bit draconian with this console. Who is/are making these decisions. MS cant catch a break right about now... smh

[theBAWSE]

a BIT draconian? And award for understatement of year goes to........ Ahem........ Why o whyyyyyyy

Round of applause for that fellow

[Why o why]

Leave it out....lol

[pompombrum]

Lol @ the disagrees.. just because your yearly dose of cod isn't effected, there are many passionate gamers who appreciate what many lesser known Japanese games can offer. This is especially the case for Europeans who are generally used to getting the short end of the stick in terms of Japanese game releases. To me region locks are a big deal as they are for many niche gamers but I guess seeing as i'm not a 40 something year old soccer mom with kids, M$ will continue to microshaft me. I just hope Sony allows for region free games again with the ps4.

[Zhipp]

Well, you're not exactly gonna be playing many Japanese games on an Xbox, now, are you? lol

[linkenski]

I agree except my pals bought Mass Effect 3 and hated the ending, but they couldn't install the extended cut because the game was regioncoded for England so they needed to have acces to an english PSN store account to get a working DLC.

[batbatz]

of course its region locked...

[Sharius]

i'm pretty sure the PS4 will be region free since it can cross play with PSV, and FYI, PSV is region free

if this gen sony can make DLC region free then it will be fantatic

[Godmars290]

It may have been region free, but they made it as hard as possible to get PSV games from the various PSNs.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

Not really region locked. You can just back up and format your card to access another region and goes back and forth with data backed up from either region you wanna play from. Or, even easier (but costs more money), have two cards, one synched to each PSN region you want.

I believe (I don't have a Vita yet so I can be completely wrong) it won't back up your games, demos and such (making you have to download again) but game saves are still there.

EDIT: Also, despite they locking your card to a PSN region, you can still just pop in a game from any region you want.

[fermcr]

Microsoft, another bad decision.

Each time they speak about the X1 it get's worse.

[jocomat9]

but better for ps4 8)

[deno]

We have an xbox one roast going on. Oh man that is just funny!!

[WeaseL]

major nelson puts his foot in it.

[Bathyj]

Ha. I could see the replies to that before I even read them

[GenericNameHere]

This guy... Give the guy in the link a trophy and two concubines! That's gotta be the best indirect trolling ever!

[6DEAD6END6]

My wife is not a gamer and I showed that and she cracked up, even she said it a stupid requirement to have Kinect on all the time to use the Xbox One and to need a Internet connection every 24 hours. And that's from someone who doesn't care for gaming lol and she gets it.

[FamilyGuy]

Did that really happen!? Are those tweets real??

Lmmfao!!

[RoadRage]

i hope ps4 is region free i cant see myself paying 70 euros for a game.

[ziggurcat]

"more at E3"?

[BlmThug]

Their grave is now a mass burial . F*** up after f*** up

[sway_z]

and it don't stop....

[mrmancs]

Nearly the 10th..... Goodnight Microsoft.

[Rusty515]

It just...gets worse

[creatchee]

Every console I've ever bought, the first thing I've asked at the counter has been "is it region locked?"

Seriously though, I have never bought a game from anywhere that wasn't the region that I've live in. Pretty sure that goes for about 95% of other gamers.

[Tetsujin]

There's a few PS3 games (and a Bluray) I bought from other regions since they weren't available here in the US; no I don't buy them often however the option to have region-free consoles does help for those rare moments. If the PS1/2 was open region there's a few games I would have paid to own as well, only option is either emulators or modded consoles.

[ginsunuva]

Hey Europe gets some cool special editions that I've gotten from ebay.co.uk.

Also Japan gets most JRPGs sometimes years before others so it's very convenient to import. Like MHP3HD.

[rainslacker]

I used to buy a lot of Japanese games. Got out of it, but kind of want to pick up a few that were available for the PS3 this gen, and there's a new Macross game that I really want. Otherwise, in the US, region locking never seemed to be a big issue with most people.

[esemce]

Xbox One the fail is strong, Jack of all trades master of none!

[Ipunchbabiesforfun]

I'm calling it now, microsoft will announce at E3 that all Xbox 360's will drop in price, have an integrated HDD and come with blu-ray along with the new xbox update for xbox one and the ability to install full games.

[ginsunuva]

come with blu-ray???

[Baka-akaB]

No surprise there . But it wont be a surprise to anyone that i'm not a fan of purchasing region locked consoles . I import 90% of my games

[alb1899]

Then you just have to buy it from the country you import your games......is that difficult?
You guys want make everything big!

[Baka-akaB]

You're funny , yeah it's that difficult . Who said i import from just one country ? and what of the 10% of local games left ?

I'm supposed to buy three sets of a same console ? Screw that .

You're the one making it a big thing . I just stated that i usually no longer bother with region locked consoles . Just that .

Enforcing that on import fans never usually works , however few in numbers you guys believe they are . And it is an easy gateway for the "let's mod consoles and pirate" mindset .

And it's ridiculously on the console malkers' end . Either as many claims almost no one imports , especially for financial reasons so those measures ae pointless . Or many do import and you are mostly making them angry .

Finally it's even worse with video content . When faced with a rebutal from video services or channels live HBO , it mostly leads to most people overseas massively downloading videos and series , as seen with Game of thrones every sunday

[OrangePowerz]

Region lock isn't a huge thing for the general public, but it is for me. I imported Catherine because the EU release was like 9 month later and GT5 prologue and FF Advent Children BluRay with the FF13 demo from Japan among other games.

We still need to see if Sony remeans region free or not, but I hope so.

[stage88]

And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.....

[alb1899]

You guys can't be more blind!
Don't you see that if you wanna sell a product in Brazil you will have to fallow the laws of this country?
Is not about Microsoft is about law, rules......Thammmm freaking fans!
IF SONY WANT TO SELL IN BRAZIL WILL HAVE TO FALLOW BRAZIL'S LAWS AND IF DOESN'T IS WALKING IN A DANGEROUS ZONE.....THAT'S IT!
You still can buy the product from amazon and nothing will happen!

[PiTCHBLaCK]

Calm down beavis.

[sjaakiejj]

Then how is the PS3 region free?

[FlameAlchemist]

Well its not like there was a flood of must have japanese games going to xbox anyways, they were always only on ps3. Hopefully ps4 remains region free.

[KingKevo]

I'm glad that Sony as the creator of the Blu-Ray disc, along with the BDA, can choose if they will regionlock games or not and also leave it to the stuidos to regionlock their movies or not. And Sony has since of the start of the BD never regionlocked anything big (just one or two Japanese games have been afaik).

And that is great, I can order games from the US if I want to. I did that with RE5 and Resistance 2 to get a Special Edition that was exclusive to it. But it also helps gamers to get their hands on games, for example Japanese games, that would never find a publisher in the West.

I get why Microsoft does what they do, the total opposite of Sony, it's easier to control different markets, sales and especially prices. But it doesn't really help the gamer.

[rainslacker]

Guess just throw this into the cons part of the list. Sigh.

[DivineAssault]

Few xbox owners actually care to import eastern titles anyway so i doubt M$ would try making things differently.. I dont even know of many japanese exclusives on their consoles either.. Still, its more negative news cuz what if they do have some great games nx gen out there? Whoever ends up buying this thing is going to be SOL..

[urwifeminder]

Never botherd me this gen so I doubt it will now average consumer has not heard a bad word about the new console.

[MysticStrummer]

"average consumer has not heard a bad word about the new console."

They most likely have if they know any gamers. I know I've had several people ask me my opinion about the two incoming consoles because they know I'm more into gaming than they are.

When former MS diehards on N4G are trash talking MS/One, that's probably at least some sort of indicator.

[nohopeinc]

I am a huge of of XBOX brand until now, I will make sure that people know they are buying a product that wants to be a cable box, looks like a vcr, wants people to think it does it all, and meh it plays games to but that's not the companies focus anymore... for there gaming console. And they will ask so what does it do right? Oh that's easy it takes your cable service and makes it incredibly annoying instead of what your used to, you can learn a whole new system but in order to use your favorite features like DVR, On Demand, and PPV, well you have to use your actual cable box so instead of ONE cable box you will have to deal with TWO, if you choose to use it for TV that is, which is exactly what the company wants you to use it for.

[bunfighterii]

Because for those 80 million plus playstation 3's it wasn't an issue, you could buy a game from anywhere in the world and it would work on your console.

[nohopeinc]

This console is such a disappointment so far it will probably region lock you into playing your game only if you are in the same zip code as the location of purchase.

[bunfighterii]

More fuel to the growing negative sentiment. Region locks are from a bygone era, we don't need or want them.

[imXify]

Yesterday that gif was marked as "funny" and is now marked as "trolling". N4G logic right here !

Anyway, region lock or not, it doesn't change a thing for the Xbox as it is not really important. But I think it will be important for the PS4.

[unicronic]

The whole region locking methodology is out of date and was never a good idea.

Service inequality contributes to this problem too.

Unfortunately as much as it is great to not have region locking on the PS3 and likely PS4, the dlc is region locked which takes away some of the shine.

[mrmarx]

Brasil is m second home and i'll tell you right now. i'm not buying a region locked console. and to buy a console there aint happening im not payng 1000 real for a console i already have and pay almost 3 times the price not to mention games are just as expensive. including used games. xbox is totally fucking up

[kostchtchie_]

this sucks for people that get ripped of with prices in there home regions, i know lots gamers that buy from different regions for cheaper games, and i like Sony being open region, i was able get Chinese/English version of dead souls earlier and other games

[Der_Kommandant]

Xbone is the best advertisement Sony can get

[jc48573]

another good reason for Sony to keep PS4 region free.

[CLOUD1983]

Hahahahahah... I cant describe how much FAIL is packed on the new XBONE, we r talking for:

1.Always ON requirement (or log at least once every 24 hours)

2.Cant resell your games

3.Region Locked! that means u cant import games from other regions (best example Wii US owners forced to buy new consoles from EU in order to play Xenoblade when it first launch)

4.The Kinect camera/mic who spy at u at all times watching & hear everything at your room...

5.M$ focus on aspects other than gaming & the new approach they have take make this thing more of a cable box than a gaming console.

Seriously ppl who r going to buy this sh1t have serious mental problems, or they stupidity is off the roof nothing else to say.

[Master of Unlocking]

Oh geez, lol
MS's Suicide Live confirmed! :)