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If the Switch 2 is hacked, will the region lock on Japanese systems be removable?

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I don’t know much about how region locking works, but if DSi’s and 3DSes can be region unlocked with homebrew, would it also be possible (theoretically) on a Switch 2, or are there more sophisticated ways to do it? It would be nice id writing a global NAND dump or using a global emuMMC are possible, though no one can say for sure :).

I would like to save some cash by buying and keeping in storage a Japanese system until an exploit is discovered, if possible, while also buying a standard system to play my games on. I don’t go online on consoles ever, so it wouldn’t be a problem if NSO doesn’t work.
 
The Switch 2 (Japanese version) IS region locked (for digital content).
It was confirmed by Nintendo on a community post on Nintendo Japan website.
That console will be locked in japanese language only and nintendo account linkable will be locked to japan store only.
So any digital games will be locked to japan region only and games you play will only be playable in japanese (or english if the game not contains japanese).
Physical games, however, will only be locked to japan language but no region lock (so US/PAL games should works anyway).
 
Last edited by Tgames,
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Why do people keep asking questions like this about an unreleased console that no one's examined at this point?
 
Kwyjor said:
Why do people keep asking questions like this about an unreleased console that no one's examined at this point?
Click to expand...
I know right? does the OP think anyone have a crystal ball to look into the future what the future hack is able to unlock? so stupid

if you’re asking for possibility then yes its possible to remove the region lock if you’re using the 3DS as reference
 
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yankii said:
I don’t know much about how region locking works, but if DSi’s and 3DSes can be region unlocked with homebrew, would it also be possible (theoretically) on a Switch 2, or are there more sophisticated ways to do it? It would be nice id writing a global NAND dump or using a global emuMMC are possible, though no one can say for sure :).

I would like to save some cash by buying and keeping in storage a Japanese system until an exploit is discovered, if possible, while also buying a standard system to play my games on. I don’t go online on consoles ever, so it wouldn’t be a problem if NSO doesn’t work.
Click to expand...
To answer your question. It is reasonable to believe that you would be able to install titles from outside Japan. Whether or not though the person behind it, if it happens even adds this though is up for debate.

Honestly, with the region lock on the console it just isn't worth the hassle. Sure you save some money but also will be spending some on learning the language if you don't so happen to know Japanese already.

Just buy a local device and don't unnecessarily update it.
 
Tgames said:
The Switch 2 (Japanese version) IS region locked (for digital content).
It was confirmed by Nintendo on a community post on Nintendo Japan website.
That console will be locked in japanese language only and nintendo account linkable will be locked to japan store only.
So any digital games will be locked to japan region only and games you play will only be playable in japanese (or english if the game not contains japanese).
Physical games, however, will only be locked to japan language but no region lock (so US/PAL games should works anyway).
Click to expand...
Will japanese cartridges work on the US multi language switch 2?
 
The reason for the region lock for the cheaper version is obvious.
Don't try exploiting other economies for "cheaper" goods. Unfortunately Japan is going through a rough patch and the economy isn't doing so well, people from other countries have been exploiting that quite aggressively.

This mainly screws up the scalpers, so all is good.
 
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Skelletonike said:
The reason for the region lock for the cheaper version is obvious.
Don't try exploiting other economies for "cheaper" goods. Unfortunately Japan is going through a rough patch and the economy isn't doing so well, people from other countries have been exploiting that quite aggressively.

This mainly screws up the scalpers, so all is good.
Click to expand...
This.
It's not gonna stop some people though. People still imported Japanese 3DS LL even though they were region locked and Japanese language only. Long before region changing was even a thing.
The main thing they probably want to stop is businesses importing consoles en masse and selling them for a slight discount over local prices, often without mentioning that it's imported, like what happened so much with Korean Wiis. This will probably prevent most of that since a Japanese-only unit isn't appealing to most people and stores won't be able to pass them off as local units.
yankii said:
I don’t know much about how region locking works, but if DSi’s and 3DSes can be region unlocked with homebrew, would it also be possible (theoretically) on a Switch 2, or are there more sophisticated ways to do it? It would be nice id writing a global NAND dump or using a global emuMMC are possible, though no one can say for sure :).

I would like to save some cash by buying and keeping in storage a Japanese system until an exploit is discovered, if possible, while also buying a standard system to play my games on. I don’t go online on consoles ever, so it wouldn’t be a problem if NSO doesn’t work.
Click to expand...
Almost certainly there will be ways to change the game language/region to play games in English pretty soon if/when it gets hacked, full region change will take longer to happen. Region changing would not only mean you lose the ability to play online, you wouldn't even be able to download game updates. IMO the hassle of needing to pirate updates even for your legit games and not being able to use the eShop probably wouldn't be worth it.
Also, we don't know how Game Share works yet, but if it requires online checks, you would lose that as well, which means no single cart multiplayer, even locally. That for me would be the biggest downside.
 
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This version is for people like me. I never use any console online, I don't have any network account, I don't care buying a device and play with it years later when it is "unlocked", I don't care about any feature other than just run the game and play and I know some japanese.

That's why I am very tempted to get one next time I will be in Japan :)
 
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Maybe I got this wrong but I was sure there were 2 versions mentioned for Japan.
1, Japan only with JPN language and locked to JPN eShop etc and at a cheaper price.
2. a multi region, multi language version (essentially the same one as every other region) at a higher price.

I could be wrong but that was my understanding, so it's not that the Japanese Switch 2 is region locked but a specific, cheaper, region variant is.
 
yankii said:
I don’t know much about how region locking works, but if DSi’s and 3DSes can be region unlocked with homebrew, would it also be possible (theoretically) on a Switch 2, or are there more sophisticated ways to do it? It would be nice id writing a global NAND dump or using a global emuMMC are possible, though no one can say for sure :).

I would like to save some cash by buying and keeping in storage a Japanese system until an exploit is discovered, if possible, while also buying a standard system to play my games on. I don’t go online on consoles ever, so it wouldn’t be a problem if NSO doesn’t work.
Click to expand...
Keeping a JA unit in storage absolutely make sense. If no hack it will continue to collect dust and no body is the wiser and when it get hacked you get to do anything you like anyway.

I know money is not of much concern for you but feeling smart is priceless.
 

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