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Nintendo looks unlikely to respond to pressure to reverse its region-locking policy with Wii U and 3DS.
"From some people’s perspective, it might seem like a kind of restriction,” Nintendo president Saturo Iwata told IGN. However, we hope people can appreciate the fact that we’re selling our products worldwide.
"There are many different regions around the world, and each region has its own cultural acceptance and legal restrictions, as well as different age ratings. There are always things that we’re required to do in each different region, which may go counter to the idea that players around the world want the freedom to play whatever they want.
"I hope that game fans can understand that the industry isn’t doing this solely out of business ego. There are some reasons behind it."
The platform has come under a certain level of pressure following the launch of a campaign urging it to fall in line with Sony and Microsoft. PS3, Vita and PS4 have been region locked from the start and Microsoft recently reversed its decision to region lock Xbox One.
IGN notes that its Iwata interview took place before Microsoft changed its Xbox One region locking policy.
