Japanese retailer says hacking 3DS will brick the device

There are all sorts of anti-piracy measures built intoNintendo's 3DS hardwareand its games, but now a retailer in Japan says there's an even stronger deterrent to prevent players from running unauthorized 3DS software.

Used games store Enterking has a notification on its website warning consumers about irreversible consequences if they try to tamper with the device's security features.

"If you use equipment or devices not approved by Nintendo ... [your 3DS] may no longer start," reads the notification, according to a Google translation.

The retailer also notes it will not buy back a 3DS system if it has a record of running "unapproved equipment."

Nintendo hasn't said anything to the public about this specific measure. However, in January, Nintendo UK general manager David Yarntonconfidently said, "We can't divulge any technical details on [the 3DS's anti-piracy tech] but needless to say this is probably one of our best pieces of equipment in that respect. There are a lot of things we've learnt over time to try and improve the security and protection - not only of our IP but of our third-party publishers' IP as well."

Piracy remains a hot-button issue in the industry elsewhere, asSony is in the middle of a high-profilelegal battleover notorious PS3 hacker George Hotz. With more and more devices launching each year andhacking cultureconstantly evolving, piracy isnot going away anytime soon, so game companies are really pumping up their offensive stance.

The best rule of thumb is and always has been, if you care about warranties and online performance, just use the device the way it was intended, with legal, authorized software (cuethe "The More You Know" music).

[Source:Enterking(Google Translation Page)]

Got a newstip? Let us know attips@gamesradar.com

Mar 7, 2011

Latest in Nintendo
A screenshot shows Pokemon Legends: Z-A protagonists standing in a city at night.
Pokemon is a stealth game now: Pokemon Legends Z-A wants you to sneak attack trainers during its nighttime battle royale
Samus firing a beam in a screenshot from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Our best look at Metroid Prime 4 yet shows Samus with a new suit and some psychic abilities, but we're still staring down a 2025 placeholder
a cyborg pac-man fused with a mysterious protagonist grabs an enemy off a ledge and eats it
Pac-Man the gritty Metroidvania, inexplicably in the works at Amazon's Secret Level, gets a new launch date and some very dark gameplay
A screenshot from Witchbrook.
Gorgeous pixel art life sim Witchbrook blends Stardew Valley and Hogwarts Legacy, as the wizard school RPG arrives later this year
Nintendo shows off the Switch and Switch 2's Virtual Game Cards system with two Miis
Preparing for the Switch 2, Nintendo announces "Virtual Game Cards" you can move between consoles and loan to friends for up to 2 weeks
Shigeru Miyamoto points to the Nintendo Today app
There's a Nintendo Direct app now: Miyamoto himself reveals Nintendo Today to beam "daily" Switch 2 news straight into your eyeballs, and it's out today
Latest in News
A screenshot shows Pokemon Legends: Z-A protagonists standing in a city at night.
Pokemon is a stealth game now: Pokemon Legends Z-A wants you to sneak attack trainers during its nighttime battle royale
Samus firing a beam in a screenshot from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Our best look at Metroid Prime 4 yet shows Samus with a new suit and some psychic abilities, but we're still staring down a 2025 placeholder
a cyborg pac-man fused with a mysterious protagonist grabs an enemy off a ledge and eats it
Pac-Man the gritty Metroidvania, inexplicably in the works at Amazon's Secret Level, gets a new launch date and some very dark gameplay
A screenshot from Witchbrook.
Gorgeous pixel art life sim Witchbrook blends Stardew Valley and Hogwarts Legacy, as the wizard school RPG arrives later this year
Nintendo shows off the Switch and Switch 2's Virtual Game Cards system with two Miis
Preparing for the Switch 2, Nintendo announces "Virtual Game Cards" you can move between consoles and loan to friends for up to 2 weeks
Shigeru Miyamoto points to the Nintendo Today app
There's a Nintendo Direct app now: Miyamoto himself reveals Nintendo Today to beam "daily" Switch 2 news straight into your eyeballs, and it's out today