Nintendo have today told Eurogamer that software created specifically for the DSi will be region-locked, meaning that only European software will work on European consoles, seemingly ending the Nintendo handheld region-free era.

Nintendo say that the reasons for the region-lock are “because DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region”.

“Also because we are including parental control functionality for Nintendo DSi and each region has its unique age limit made by different independent bodies.”

So could this be the end of the importing of those rare classic DS titles that never make it outside of Japan, and also shatter my dream of importing a console so I can get my hands on one a few months before the rest of Europe..

Apparently it does..