Recent reports of the gaming news site letsplayvideogames could indicate that NX will be region free. This is because they've stated that the NX development kit can run software from any region. While this definitely shouldn't be taken as confirmation that it will be the case with the console, if this turns out to be the case it will be the first main Nintendo console to not be region locked. This could be explained by it being rumored to be portable since Nintendo have made some handhelds region free namely the GBA and the original DS though it would still be in contrast to the 3ds which is region locked.

So what does this mean for buyers?

Well it would mean that you'd be able to import games from other regions and in that potentially play games that weren't released in your specific region or perhaps get them before they're officially released in your region. It could also mean that you'd be able to get a better deal on specific games that may be cheaper to get in other places.

It sadly does not guarantee that you'll be able to use digital codes for games in the eshop from other regions though, as the console being region free does not mean the same will be the case for the NX eshop. Which is a shame since speaking from experience as a European I often tend to find great deals on codes for games only to be disappointed when I find out that all the codes are exclusively for the NA region. I can dream though

While this would mainly be something that would appeal to the more "hardcore" gamers or people living in more remote regions I do think it would be nice for Nintendo to acknowledge that group of people by making this a feature and thereby joining other big console manufacturers in doing so. Hopefully we'll receive confirmation soon whether this is actually the case.

So what are your thoughts on this? Excited about the potential of the NX being region free or will it not make much of a difference to you if it isn't? Tell me what you think!

Whether or not it's region locked, I'm still going to buy the NX regardless. It would be pretty cool to play games from other regions though, so I'd like to see it be region free.

Being region free would be pretty cool because of the revisional differences between releases, but I don't know that this is really indicative of anything. If I'm not mistaken, the developer models of the original PlayStation were region free and they're region locked.

I read today that NX might use carts, partly because of piracy concerns.
If that is one of the concerns, that kinda leads me to believe they would still region lock them to try and prevent it... either that, or go back to that awful lockout chip. >.<