The First Ever Region Locked PS3 Game

[Robin]

As most people know all PS3 games up until now have been region free, Sony always said they had the ability to region lock titles but never acted on it and in my opinion it was a great move which won over many people who wanted to get obscure or unavailable titles from other countries or had a console which was a different region to the one they were living in. It was also an added selling point over the 360 which has nearly all of its titles region locked in the early days.

Well today the first region locked PS3 title has been announced and its going to be Persona 4.

It could be a worrying sign of things to come, could all future PS3 and Vita titles be region locked?, will the PS4 games be region locked? How will you know what's locked and what isn't?

Meet The First Ever Region-Locked PS3 Game

The upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 release of fighting game Persona 4 Arena is, in North America at least, taking the rare and terrible move of being completely region-locked.

While the PS3 is usually entirely region-free, as are many Xbox 360 games these days (since on Microsoft’s platform it’s a decision left open to the publisher), Atlus has decided that the American release of the game will be locked on both consoles.

For any publisher to region-block a PS3 game is a strange decision; for a boutique publisher like Atlus, whose consumers are some of the savviest online, it seems crazy.

So crazy that, believe it or not, this is the first game since the release of the PS3 in 2006 to ever feature complete region-locking.

I’d be shocked if it wasn’t down to some kind of move to preserve North American sales and cut down on imports, since the game is out in Japan nearly two weeks earlier (and that version also features English language support).

Still, we’ve contacted Atlus, and will update if we hear back.

‘Persona 4 Arena’ will be the first region-locked PS3 release ever

In a surprising turn of events, Atlus USA announced in its official forum that the PlayStation 3 version of Persona 4 Arena, the upcoming fighting game collaboration between Atlus and Arc System Works, will be region-locked. Though it’s not rare for Xbox 360 titles to have region-locks, this marks the first time such a restriction has been put on a PS3 release.

Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 systems themselves are region-free, making it up to the publishers to determine whether or not they want to region-lock their software and restrict sales to certain countries. For reasons unknown, Atlus has responded to the initial statement by adding that they have decided to lock all versions of Persona 4 Arena, leaving many fans disgruntled –– some to the point of threatening to boycott the title altogether.

This news is undoubtedly most unsettling for European gamers, as they are always rather late to the party when it comes to Atlus and Arc System Works releases. Though Persona 4 Arena will launch in North America on August 7th, only 2 weeks after its July 26 release in Japan, Europeans won’t see the title until August 31st at the earliest. In all likelihood, that date is acting as a placeholder, as reports indicate that the game only has a tentative “2012″ release window from publisher Arc System Works Europe (formerly Zen United). In the past, this disparity caused many eager gamers to import, but the imposed region-locking will force people to have to wait for the title to be released in their region.

It’s important to keep in mind that though the physical Persona 4 Arena discs will be region-locked, the servers will be global, meaning online matches can be played with anyone, regardless of their region. Considering online play is essential to almost all fighting fans, it’s reassuring to know that Atlus will not be segregating that aspect of the game.

 

[MeanElf]

From the two articles' wording, it seems to be down to the publishers really - I suppose it might happen with big name games but the obscure ones which you mention will probably remain region free.

 

[F1 fan]

Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come. Though my PS3 and most of my games were purchased in the UK, I've started importing US titles as they're usually cheaper to get a hold of in Japan. Should my PS3 die, I'll probably replace it with a Japanese PS3. I really hope that if that day comes, I won't have games that the new system won't play. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'll need to keep an eye on what I buy.

 

[Tornado]

Apparently, they are just doing this to protect sales of the game in Japan (pretty much for reasons F1 Fan pointed out above). Still a pretty nasty gut punch; especially when Atlus is such a tight-knit publisher.

 

[F1 fan]

That makes sense Toronado. Games are very expensive here. Although the average income is higher. Perhaps it's just my perspective based on the current exchange rates. I can see it happening more often in Japan. In particular, gamers get the short end of the stick when it comes to collections. For example, ico and shadow of the collossus were re-released in the west last year in one bundle. In Japan, they were released separately and priced the same as an individual game. This happens with most collections. The one notable exception was the mgs hd collection which was released in two parts in Japan. The first had mgs 2 and 3 and the second was peace walker on it's own. Again, these were full price releases. I am going to buy an imported copy of the mgs hd collection, however, I'll buy it mostly for mgs 2 and 3. Peace walker is just a bonus. I wouldn't pay full price for peace walker on it's own.

 

[Imari]

Ah, so instead of charging reasonable prices for games in all territories, they're region locking so that they can continue to overcharge in areas that have traditionally had higher prices.

Brilliant move! Bravo!

Australian retailers will be all over this. I'll bet they'd love some region locking, so that they can continue to sell games at $80+ when the AU dollar is at parity or better with the US...

 

[mika haka]

Why region lock a game? I mean don't the developers like profits? The nascar the game forum was full of European fans complaining they couldn't get it for the xbox and in this capitalist world it makes no sense. Even digital distribution has regions, why?

 

[sesselpupser]

Peace walker is just a bonus. I wouldn't pay full price for peace walker on it's own.

A brief off-topic aside if I may? If you haven't played Peace Walker you're in for a surprise, I thought it would be Snake Eater 'lite' but as it turns out it's the longest Metal Gear game I've seen in terms of 100% completion and the co-ops feature is excellent. I wouldn't pay full price either because it is quite grindy (understatement!) and repetitive towards the end, but no more so than the MGS2 VR missions.

Why region lock a game? I mean don't the developers like profits? The nascar the game forum was full of European fans complaining they couldn't get it for the xbox and in this capitalist world it makes no sense. Even digital distribution has regions, why?

When it works backwards like that it makes no sense at all, I mean why region lock a game that may not be available in all regions? However, when you consider than a US DVD in India costs the equivalent of hundreds of dollars when you adjust it for the average income, regional pricing does have a use (bizarrely, though, they don't appear to use it that way which is why piracy is so huge in the Middle and Far East).

It's stating the bleeding obvious but money is relative so it makes sense that prices for things should be too. 'Rich' means one thing in Africa and something completely different in America. So, really, I support regional pricing if, IF it's applied fairly, which I don't feel it is currently.

In the age of the Internet and systems like OnLive, Netflix, iTunes and so on, what possible reason is there for NBC to deny me a reasonably priced, legal way for me to watch the latest season of 30 Rock? I think it's something like £30 on iTunes, if it's even available yet. Compare the price of a yearly TV license in the UK (I've never paid for one but I think it's about £200, but that's just a complete guess) to £30 for 24 half-hour (if that) episodes of one programme that only exists as electrons.

I think I've gone on ranting for long enough, I apologise. Altus are making a mistake but hopefully they'll bow to the pressure to reconsider their position, they stand to lose a LOT of goodwill over this and boutique publishers and/or developers like them (I'm not sure which they are) depend on goodwill a lot more than a big company like EA does. I'm not saying it'll be the end of them but if it motivates enough previously sure customers to stay away then obviously it'll do more harm than good.

 

[Tired Tyres]

If I recall correctly, the contract a publisher signs to allow them to release games on the PS3 specifically forbids region locking. I don't have a link to such a document though.

Having said that, it was from the beginning of the PS3 era. I don't know if that's changed now.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Apparently, they are just doing this to protect sales of the game in Japan (pretty much for reasons F1 Fan pointed out above). Still a pretty nasty gut punch; especially when Atlus is such a tight-knit publisher.

Importing and economics usually go hand and hand. Say you have Fighting Game X, and you release it with a Japan first policy because you have movies and voiceovers that take time to record, program, ect. Said game may release in Japan in Q1, but people in the West caught on and created buzz on the title, driving people to import. Sites like Play Asia would upcharge the basic cost of the game by up to 30% to import the game from Japan to the US.

Now Fighting Game X has been released in the US in late Q2. Japan, seeing the market for cheaper games, imports, like F1 Fan pointed out, the US version because it is easier on their wallets. They get in on the cheap discounted prices that the US market provides to Japanese consumer, so supply and demand all balances out in the end.

I understand what Atlus is doing here. They are releasing the game within two weeks in two different regions, NA and Japan with the same content. They have to protect sales somehow.

 

[Robin]

Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come. Though my PS3 and most of my games were purchased in the UK, I've started importing US titles as they're usually cheaper to get a hold of in Japan. Should my PS3 die, I'll probably replace it with a Japanese PS3. I really hope that if that day comes, I won't have games that the new system won't play. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'll need to keep an eye on what I buy.

No problem 👍

As a person who has PS3 games from Japan, Asia, US and EU its majorly important to me that this doesn't become a trend with other developers. I can see why they would want to protect sales if the release dates differ by a wide margin but I think the number of people who import for that reason is only a small majority.

Also even if it doesn't directly affect most buyers its about the wider issue of consumer rights and DRM etc.

 

[F1 fan]

A brief off-topic aside if I may? If you haven't played Peace Walker you're in for a surprise,

I haven't played peace walker. I was going to buy it when I still had my PSP, however, I decided to trade in the PSP for a copy of New Vegas and a new Dualshock3. A wise choice in my opinion. I'm looking forward to trying peace walker, but having been mildly disappointed with Portable Ops, I didn't feel like taking a risk on a game I might not like much when the other choice was a game I knew I'd like (and as a matter of fact, New Vegas is now one of my favourite all time games).

I'm looking forward to playing through Peace Walker, but I can't see myself sending enough time on it to complete everything when I have a masterpiece like MGS3 on the same disk.

Importing and economics usually go hand and hand. Say you have Fighting Game X, and you release it with a Japan first policy because you have movies and voiceovers that take time to record, program, ect. Said game may release in Japan in Q1, but people in the West caught on and created buzz on the title, driving people to import. Sites like Play Asia would upcharge the basic cost of the game by up to 30% to import the game from Japan to the US.

Now Fighting Game X has been released in the US in late Q2. Japan, seeing the market for cheaper games, imports, like F1 Fan pointed out, the US version because it is easier on their wallets. They get in on the cheap discounted prices that the US market provides to Japanese consumer, so supply and demand all balances out in the end.

I understand what Atlus is doing here. They are releasing the game within two weeks in two different regions, NA and Japan with the same content. They have to protect sales somehow.

I don't think it would affect sales too badly. I just started teaching English in Japan, but even my more advanced students (and my two native level bosses for that matter) would probably still opt for the Japanese version out of comfort. If there's one thing I've learned in my short time as an English teacher in Japan, very few people continue to use English after leaving school, and of those who do, few have confidence.

I have a few students who can converse to an excellent level, but they have next to no confidence. I really hope to change that.

 

[Skygrasper550]

hold on, isn't Armored Core V's online multiplayer region-locked? Correct me if I'm wrong, but AFAIK Armored Core V is released earlier than Persona 4 Arena, so that would make Armored Core V the first-ever region-locked PS3 game.