With the newly announced Nintendo DSi not scheduled to hit territories outside of Japan until late 2009, a question on many minds is if the handheld will be region-free. According to a CVG report, citing a Nintendo of Europe spokesperson, the answer is no. Standard Nintendo DS format software can be played regardless of region on the device, but DSi specific software, which will be released through the DS Store and on cartrigde format in the future, is locked to a specific locale.

DSi software (software that is only compatible with DSi) is region locked, eg: European DSi software can only be played on European DSi consoles.

Certainly this is disappointing news to all would-be importers.

Nintendo: “DSi software is region locked” [CVG]

Follow this author on Twitter.