Region locking on retro consoles, console by console

Which consoles lock out imports, and how?

Locks come in three kinds: a cartridge shape that will not go in¹, a lockout chip in console and cartridge that has to match¹, and a check at start-up that refuses the wrong console². Several consoles combine two of them¹⁹.

Why won't a Famicom game go into my NES?

The Japanese Famicom used slightly smaller cartridges, so Japanese games cannot fit into an NES without an adapter⁷.

Fitting is not the only barrier: original NES consoles sold in different regions have different lockout chips, which enforce the lock regardless of TV signal compatibility¹⁰. Those regions include North America, most of continental Europe (PAL-B), Asia, and the British Isles, Italy and Australasia (PAL-A)¹⁰. So two PAL consoles can still carry different chips¹⁰.

The redesigned NES released in 1993 lacks the 10NES chip, so it plays PAL and unlicensed games, although Famicom games still need a converter⁷.

How does region locking work on the SNES?

The SNES has two locks, and the first is the cartridge shape: North American cartridges have a rectangular bottom with inset grooves that match tabs in the console, while other regions' cartridges are narrower, with a smooth curve on the front and no grooves¹. Adapters, or a modification of the console, get past the shape¹.

The second is a lockout chip (CIC) in the console and in each cartridge, which stops PAL games running on Japanese or North American consoles and the reverse; those two share the same chip¹.

So once the two tabs inside a US console's cartridge slot are cut out, nothing stops Japanese or Korean cartridges playing on it⁶.

Even once a game runs, the TV standard matters: NTSC is 60 Hz and PAL 50 Hz, so an NTSC game at PAL's rate is about 16.7% slower, and PAL's higher resolution letterboxes the picture¹. Some PAL games also refuse to play on a console set to 60 Hz⁶. More in the PAL vs NTSC guide.

Why won't an N64 cartridge from another region fit?

A North American N64 cartridge has its notch in a different place from a Japanese one, and a peg in the console's slot stops the other region's cartridge going in¹⁸. PAL cartridges use the same notch position as Japanese ones¹¹, so those two fit each other's consoles, and the lockout chips below are what stop them. A cartridge converter, or simply removing the cartridge's casing, lets a cartridge fit⁹.

The N64 also has lockout chips: Japanese and North American consoles share the same NTSC lockout, and Europe has a PAL one⁹. When the console starts, the cartridge's chip reports its region as NTSC or PAL, and if that does not match the console, the boot stops with the CPU frozen¹². Between NTSC and PAL, a bypass device such as the N64 Passport or the Datel Action Replay can be used to play imports⁹.

Will a Japanese Mega Drive game work on a Genesis or a PAL Mega Drive?

Mega Drive and Genesis hardware comes in three main regions: Japanese, US and Europe/PAL². Japanese cartridges have the same pinouts as the others but a different shape, so they will not fit a Genesis or PAL Mega Drive, except the US Genesis 3 with its wider slot⁷.

US and PAL cartridges share one shape and fit each other's consoles². In a Japanese Model 1 Mega Drive they fit with room to spare but lack the cut-out for its cartridge lock, so the console will not power on².

Most games released before 1993 largely ignore the console's region, but many later ones check it and will not boot on a mismatch². A Genesis game without that check plays fine on a PAL Mega Drive, though it may run slower than intended².

Sega CD (Mega-CD) games are locked to the same three regions, but by the CD unit's BIOS, whatever the region of the host console².

Can a Sega Saturn play imports?

Saturn games are region-locked, but a switch on the console gets round the lock, though it does not change the game's language⁷. Certain unlicensed backup/RAM cartridges also let a console play games from other regions⁷.

Some of those cartridges combine region bypass, extra memory, RAM expansion and cheats in one, while others only bypass the region and cannot play certain Japanese Saturn games that need a RAM expansion cartridge⁷. Games from a different TV system may also have graphical problems⁷.

Are PlayStation and PS2 discs region-locked?

Yes: the PlayStation is locked into three regions, NTSC-U/C, NTSC-J and PAL⁷. The last digit of a PS1's model number shows which region it is from: SCPH-xxx0 for Japan, SCPH-xxx1 for the USA and Canada, SCPH-xxx2 for Europe and Oceania, and SCPH-xxx3 for Asia outside Japan¹⁶.

PS2 games come in four regions: the same three plus NTSC-C, for China, which Wikipedia's count of three leaves out⁷¹³. DVD films played on a PS2 are region-locked as well⁷.

On both consoles, a modchip or a disc swap as the console starts disables the lock; on the PS2, the swap uses a special disc known as Swap Magic⁷.

A PlayStation 3 will not get you round it: region locking still applies to the PlayStation and PS2 games it plays⁷. See also backward compatibility.

Separately from the lock, some PAL games are about 17% slower than their NTSC versions because of the different refresh rate⁷.

Is the Dreamcast region-locked?

Yes: the Dreamcast only plays games released within its own region, but a modchip, boot discs or cheat discs such as Datel's Action Replay get round this⁸. There are four regions: North America, Europe, Japan and Asia, which includes Australia¹⁴.

A game from another region that does boot can still look wrong, off-centre or in black and white, until the console has the region frequency mod¹⁴. Most PAL Dreamcast software also includes the option to play in its original 480i/60 Hz format⁷.

Is the GameCube region-locked?

Yes, but its lockout can be bypassed by modifying the console or with third-party software; the most notable are Datel's FreeLoader and Action Replay discs⁷.

The Game Boy Player add-on is region-free: it works on any GameCube and plays cartridges from any region¹⁷. Its boot disc, though, is region-locked and must match the GameCube's region¹⁷.

Are Game Boy, DS and PSP games region-free?

The whole Game Boy line, from the original to the Micro, is region-free: whichever country a Game Boy was bought in, it plays the entire library without region adapters or homebrew³. Game Boy Advance software has no regional lockout¹⁸.

The DS is region-free in the sense that any console runs a DS game bought anywhere in the world⁴. The exception is Chinese iQue DS games, which cannot be played on other versions of the original DS⁴. The DSi added a narrower lock: DSi-specific software is region-locked, while cartridge software that works on earlier models is not¹⁵.

All PSP games are region-free⁵. UMD films and music are another matter: most carry DVD region coding⁵.

Are PC games region-locked?

Rarely: lockout is harder to enforce on PC because the game and the operating system are easily modified, and games that use it are rare but do exist⁷. Subscription-based online games often enforce a regional lock by blocking IP addresses⁷. Copy protection is a separate subject: see old PC games and DRM.

How to check your copy

1. Look at the cartridge's shape. North American SNES cartridges have a rectangular bottom with inset grooves; other regions' are narrower, with a smooth curved front¹. Famicom cartridges are slightly smaller than NES ones⁷.
2. Turn an N64 cartridge over. A North American cartridge's notch sits in a different place from a Japanese one¹⁸; PAL and Japanese cartridges share theirs¹¹.
3. Read the console's model number. On a PS1, the last digit of the SCPH number gives the region: 0 Japan, 1 USA/Canada, 2 Europe/Oceania, 3 Asia outside Japan¹⁶.
4. Match the exact region, not just PAL or NTSC. An NES from the British Isles (PAL-A) and one from most of continental Europe (PAL-B) have different lockout chips¹⁰, and the Dreamcast's Asia region includes Australia¹⁴.
5. Check add-ons separately. Sega CD games follow the CD unit's BIOS, not the console's region², and a Game Boy Player boot disc must match the GameCube's region¹⁷.
6. On a DS, look out for DSi-specific and iQue games, the two exceptions to region-free DS cartridges⁴¹⁵.

For the codes printed on labels and boxes, see the product codes guide. The RetroReady app reads the region and product code from a photo.

Frequently asked

Will a PAL N64 game work on an NTSC console?

Not on its own. A PAL cartridge has the Japanese notch position¹¹, so it does not go into a North American console¹⁸; it does fit a Japanese one, but the console's region check stops the boot when a PAL cartridge meets an NTSC console¹². A bypass device such as the N64 Passport can be used to play import games across NTSC and PAL⁹.

Can I play Japanese SNES games on an American SNES?

Yes, with an adapter or by cutting out the two tabs in the US console's slot: the shapes differ, but both regions use the same lockout chip¹⁶.

Are Game Boy games region-locked?

No: every Game Boy model, from the original to the Micro, plays games from any country without region adapters³.

Why does my import Dreamcast game look black and white?

Other-region games that boot may show a black-and-white or off-centre picture, and the fix ConsoleMods gives is the region frequency mod¹⁴.

Sources

1. Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wikipedia: "Physically, the cartridges are shaped differently for different regions. North American cartridges have a rectangular bottom with inset grooves matching protruding tabs in the console, and other regions' cartridges are narrower with a smooth curve on the front and no grooves. The physical incompatibility can be overcome with the use of various adapters, or through modification of the console."; "Internally, a regional lockout chip (CIC) within the console and in each cartridge prevents the PAL region games from being played on Japanese or North American consoles and vice versa. The Japanese and North American machines have the same region chip."; "the NTSC video standard specifies video at 60 Hz but PAL operates at 50 Hz, resulting in an approximately 16.7% slower framerate. PAL's higher resolution results in letterboxing of the output image."
2. Genesis: Region Information, ConsoleMods (read via the Wayback Machine): "There are three main regions for Genesis/Mega Drive hardware; Japanese, US and Europe/PAL. ... Most games released before 1993 largely ignore these settings, but many released after this period perform a check to determine which console the game is running on. If the game detects a mismatch between what it expects and the console's region settings, it will not boot"; "All Sega CD games are region locked according to the three main regions (JP, US, PAL) as described above. This is determined by the CD system's BIOS and is unrelated to the region of the host console."; "US and PAL cartridges will easily fit into a Japanese Mega Drive with room to spare, but they lack a cutout on the left side for the model 1 console's cartridge lock, preventing the console from powering on. ... Sega also used the exact same cartridge shape as the US in PAL regions, so PAL games will fit without issue in a Genesis console and vice versa."; "Conversely, Genesis games without the region check will play fine on a PAL Mega Drive, but may play at a slower than intended speed."
3. Game Boy: Region Information, ConsoleMods (read via the Wayback Machine): "The entire Game Boy line of hardware and software (Original, Color, Pocket, Light, Advance, Advance SP, and Micro) is region free. Regardless of which country the Game Boy was purchased in, it can play the entire Game Boy library without using any sort of region adapters or homebrew."
4. Nintendo DS, Wikipedia: "The Nintendo DS is region free in the sense that any console will run a Nintendo DS game purchased anywhere in the world; however, the Chinese iQue DS games cannot be played on other versions of the original DS"
5. Universal Media Disc, Wikipedia: "DVD region coding has been applied to most UMD movies and music. However, all PSP games are region-free"
6. SNES: Region Information, ConsoleMods (read via the Wayback Machine): "Both Japanese and PAL cartridges do not fit due to the aforementioned cartridge slot tabs, but these can be easily defeated by simply cutting them out. Once these tabs are removed, there is nothing stopping Japanese or Korean cartridges from playing on a US console as they all use the same lockout chip."; "Some PAL games can also detect if they are running on a console set to 60 Hz and will not play."
7. Regional lockout, Wikipedia: "The PlayStation and PlayStation 2 are region-locked into three regions: NTSC U/C, NTSC-J, and PAL. It is possible to disable region locking on said systems via a modchip or by performing a disk-swap when the console starts. ... In the case of the PlayStation 2, disk-swapping is achieved by using a special disc known as the Swap Magic"; "As the Famicom (the Japanese model) used slightly smaller cartridges, Japanese games could not fit into NES consoles without an adapter"; "The redesigned Nintendo Entertainment System model released in 1993 lacks the 10NES chip, and can play PAL and unlicensed games, although Famicom games still need a converter."; "Japanese Sega Mega Drive cartridges use the same pinouts as with the Genesis and PAL Mega Drive cartridges but has a different shape and will not fit in the Genesis or PAL Mega Drive slot, which has the same shape (although the Genesis 3 in the U.S. will accept Japanese titles due to its wider slot.)"; "Like the Mega Drive/Genesis, the use of a switch on the Sega Saturn will circumvent the region-lock, but will not change the language. In addition, the use of certain unlicensed backup/RAM cartridges will also allow a console to play games from different regions"; "DVD movies on the PlayStation 2 are also region-locked."; "The GameCube and Wii's regional lockout can be bypassed either by console modification or simply by third-party software. Datel's FreeLoader or Action Replay discs are most notable."; "Amongst PC games, regional lockout is more difficult to enforce because both the game application and the operating system can be easily modified. Subscription-based online games often enforce a regional lock by blocking IP addresses ... A number of other games using regional lockout are rare but do exist."; "Some of these cartridges include regional bypass, extra memory, RAM expansion(s), and cheat devices all in one, while others feature only regional bypass and cannot play certain Japanese Saturn games that require RAM expansion cartridges."; "Games from different television systems may have graphical problems."; "Region locking is present for backwards-compatible PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games"; "Due to the different refresh ratio, some PAL games are about 17% slower than their NTSC counterpart. An infamous example would be the entire SquareEnix lineup on Sony systems"; "starting with the Dreamcast - most software in PAL territories included the option to play PAL software in its original 480i/60 Hz format"
8. Dreamcast, Wikipedia: "It uses regional lockout, only playing games released within its predetermined region; however, this is circumventable via modchip installation, boot discs, or cheat discs such as Datel's Action Replay."
9. Nintendo 64 Game Pak, Wikipedia: "However, the systems are also equipped with lockout chips that will only allow them to play their appropriate games. Both Japanese and North American systems have the same NTSC lockout, and Europe has a PAL lockout. A bypass device such as the N64 Passport or the Datel Action Replay can be used to play import games"; "region-locked cartridges will fit into the other regions' systems by using a cartridge converter or by simply removing the cartridge's casing"
10. Nintendo Entertainment System, Wikipedia: "Original NES consoles sold in different regions have different lock-out chips, thereby enforcing regional lock-out regardless of TV signal compatibility. Such regions include North America; most of continental Europe (PAL-B); Asia; and the British Isles, Italy, and Australasia (PAL-A)."
11. N64 Region Info, Console Protocols: "PAL Cartridges use the same notch position as the Japanese cartridges."
12. PIF-NUS, N64brew: "CIC sends 1 nibble (4-bits): region identifier (0x1 = NTSC, 0x5 = PAL) ... PIF checks that the region identifier matches the region of the console (which is hardcoded within the PIF SM5 ROM itself). This is the actual region check, preventing cartridges of different regions from working on the console. If the values don't match, the PIF stops the boot by freezing the CPU"
13. PS2: Region Information, ConsoleMods (read via the Wayback Machine): "The PS2 is region locked with four different regions for games, and more for other features such as DVD and movie playback. ... 09 China NTSC-C"
14. Dreamcast: Region Information, ConsoleMods (read via the Wayback Machine): "The Dreamcast is region locked with the four regions being North America, Europe, Japan, and Asia (which includes Australia)."; "If you successfully boot other-region games, you may notice graphical issues such as the screen being off-center or being displayed in black and white. You will need to perform the Dreamcast:Region Frequency Mod to fix this."
15. Nintendo DSi, Wikipedia: "Due to regional differences in Internet services and parental controls, DSi-specific software is region locked. However, cartridge software compatible with previous models, Internet browsing, and photo sharing are not locked."
16. PS1: Region Information, ConsoleMods (read via the Wayback Machine): "SCPH-xxx0: Domestic Japanese units ... SCPH-xxx1: USA/Canada units ... SCPH-xxx2: Europe/Oceania units ... SCPH-xxx3: Asia outside Japan units."
17. Game Boy Player, Wikipedia: "While the Game Boy Player is region free, meaning the units will function on any GameCube system and play cartridges of any region, the boot discs are region locked and must match the region of the GameCube system."
18. N64 Region Modification, Console Protocols: "On the N64 the region locking is physical between North America and Japanese Console / Cartridge combinations. It's a notch in a specific position on the cartridge and a peg in the console."
19. Game Boy Micro, Wikipedia: "As with other Game Boy Advance systems, there is no regional lockout on software."

How this guide was made. Written from facts we checked against the pages listed under Sources: each claim is quoted word for word from its source before it goes in. Spot a mistake? Write to support@retroready.app.

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