facebook rss twitter

Nintendo crackdown on Wii imports. Goodbye Freeloader!

by Steven Williamson on 19 June 2008, 10:46

Tags: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo (TYO:7974), Wii

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qans4

Add to My Vault: x

Nintendo has put an end to Wii Freeloader, the bootdisk that allows the user to play games from other regions on their Wii system, by releasing a firmware update that kills Datel’s import boot disk.

Of course, Wii owners can get round it by choosing not to update their consoles, but many Freeloaders have already fallen prey to Nintendo's clamp-down on imported titles.

Gamer TM are reporting that if you've had to send your console in for repair or if you find yourself doing so in the future then there's no way that you can avoid the update. Nintendo will be carrying out a mandatory install of the Wii firmware update version 3.3 on all consoles that land at its repair factory.

The update will be a bitter blow to those European gamers, including those who have recently imported Super Smash Bros Brawl from the States. They'll just have to wait for its UK release on June 27th, and buy it again!

Source :: Gamer Tm


HEXUS Forums :: 18 Comments

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!
great i just spent a fortune on a freeloader and a playasia import of smash bros for my sons 8th birthday. He wanted it for christmas and didnt get it and i couldnt let him down again on his birthday. Now if my wii gets updated he cant play his favourite game.

Keep acting like this and ninty wont get a penny more of my money.

can they force us to take an update or make it so we cant play new games without it, im pretty sure mario galaxy had a manditory one?
great…….
Another reason to get Wii chipped… Apparently its easy to do now, there are solderless chips… Why does nintendo do this?
Careful people… talk of cracking/chipping Wiis won't be tolerated.

Feel free to vent over this lockdown but keep it legal. :)
Nick
Careful people… talk of cracking/chipping Wiis won't be tolerated.

Feel free to vent over this lockdown but keep it legal. :)

Sorry Nick, I though it would be ok to mention as its was declared legal.
http://forums.hexus.net/gaming-news/140609-headlines-mr-modchip-wins-landmark-mod-chipping-case.html