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Nintendo Wii U eShop Age Restrictions Due To German Law

by Mike Mahardy on December 10, 2012 at 05:09 PM

5,521 Views

Last week, it was announced that European Wii U owners could only purchase 18+ rated games during certain hours of the night. Now we have an explanation. Nintendo said in a statement to Eurogamer:

"Legal age restriction requirements vary across a number of European countries. Since Nintendo of Europe is based in Germany, Nintendo eShop is complying with German youth protection regulation which therefore applies to all our European markets. Under German law, content rated 18+ must be made available only at night.

"Therefore the accessibility of 18+ content in Nintendo eShop is limited to [USK: 22:00 UTC until 4:00 UTC] [PEGI: 23:00 UTC until 3:00 UTC]."

[Via:Eurogamer]

Email the author Mike Mahardy, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, Nintendo 3DS, eshop, zombi u

Comments

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by John Wrek Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:14 PM

Hmm... I see.
by TheBiasedIrishman Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:17 PM

Why don't we take the Germany-stationed Nintendo of Europe, and push it somewhere else!
by The Destroyer Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:18 PM

Perfectly legit for that reason....but I'm pretty sure they'd be able to change it in different regions...maybe they'll be an update later to change it.
by lugadi Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:25 PM

At first, I thought: "Why do they have to explain age restricted content?" and now I'm wondering: "Why do people of age have to wait until a certain time?" So are retailers not allowed to sell M-Rated games until a certain time at night, too?
by Christopher Stewart Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:33 PM

This is the silliest form of parental controll I have ever heard of.
by LOZFAN1 Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:34 PM

And so many people were ready to get angry at Nintendo for this when it wasnt even their fault. It's the law of the land over there. But i guess whiny gamers will never learn their lesson.
by TheEnragedNinja Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:34 PM

Ha! Europe yet again defeated by its own stupidity.
by Senor Ding Dong Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:37 PM

So immensely stupid... The German restrictions are the harshest in all of Europe, why should all other European countries have to suffer because of this?
by Bryan Stoll Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:47 PM

This law brought to you by the country that lets you buy alcohol as long as you can see over the counter.
by S0ryiu Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:56 PM

does it really matter though? the appeal of nintendo has always been all ages content.
by Steph Monday, December 10, 2012 at 05:59 PM

that is ridiculous
by cpollock15 Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:05 PM

That's pretty lame. It would make more sense just to require of parental code or something.
by N64LIVE Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:23 PM

Glad I don't live in Europe. I feel sorry for them, being pulled down by Germany's idiocy.
by Jared Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:28 PM

Is it just me...or do I end up seeing History somehow repeating itself in some odd strange way. Germany...what was Germany really known for...oh right World War II. Nintendo. Nintendo is in Japan. Japan was a German Ally. Heck they have effective controlled Europe now without firing a single shot!
by Benny Shores Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:33 PM

Not surprising, it's due to laws in Europe that we don't have slot machines in our Pokemon games anymore.
by somebodyissilent Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:33 PM

Well nuts to fans. Those poor kids
by darkflamemaster Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:45 PM

well, kids today stay up late. (depends?) oh wells,
by Companion Cube Monday, December 10, 2012 at 06:49 PM

Makes sense.
by Meta77 Monday, December 10, 2012 at 07:02 PM

poor europe :c that sucks for them.