Nintendo Switch Physical Games Ditching ESRB Ratings in Southeast Asia

The ESRB Logo Controversy

Nintendo is all set to make a significant departure from its longstanding practice of including ESRB ratings on the physical covers of Switch games in Southeast Asia. The ESRB logo has always been a disliked aspect by many in the Nintendo community, since it obstructs the game's box art, despite being confined to a corner.

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This issue is not just restricted to ESRB-rated copies of Nintendo Switch games but is much more pronounced in regions such as Europe, where USK-rated copies are sold, as the logo is much more intrusive. Many in the community have long advocated for alternative solutions, such as repositioning the logo on the rear side or including a reversible box cover without any logos. It appears that Nintendo is finally accommodating the requests, albeit limited to users in a specific region.

As reported by Nintendo Soup, the change is all set to roll out with the release of Another Code: Recollection, and all physical copies of first-party titles in Southeast Asia will follow suit. Previously, in addition to the ESRB logo on the front, the games also featured a “Middle East/Southeast Asia/Official Product” logo and a Nintendo of America barcode on the reverse side. Now, the ESRB logo will no longer be present, and the Nintendo of America barcode will be replaced with a Nintendo Co, Ltd (Japan) barcode. It is also expected that the games will now ship with an MSE region Game Card, instead of a USA region one.

Region Concerns and Compatibility

The alteration in the game card's region has raised concerns in the community, particularly regarding potential compatibility issues with downloadable content on the Nintendo Switch. A lot of users residing in Southeast Asia often have a UK or US account, since Nintendo's eShop has limited availability in those regions. However, users have reported that downloading a DLC from a different region account usually works fine, so it is expected that this should not create any issues as such.

Fans have been in awe of how clean the box looks, giving it more of a 'book-like' feel. Previously, collectors seeking versions without an age rating were limited to purchasing collectors' or special editions of Switch games. However, this option was not consistently reliable either, since it was only specific to certain games. This recent development has heightened the expectations of Nintendo fans globally, who are now eagerly anticipating comparable changes in their respective regions in the near future.

Aesthetic Appeal and Expectations

Overall, this is a welcome change for avid collectors of physical versions, as it enhances the aesthetic appeal of the packaging. Additionally, some have highlighted that Another Code: Recollection is an excellent choice to roll out this change because of the game's impressive box art.

Previously, in addition to the ESRB logo on the front, the games also featured a “Middle East/Southeast Asia/Official Product” logo and a Nintendo of America barcode on the reverse side. Now, the ESRB logo will no longer be present, and the Nintendo of America barcode will be replaced with a Nintendo Co, Ltd (Japan) barcode. It is also expected that the games will now ship with an MSE region Game Card, instead of a USA region one.

This recent development has heightened the expectations of Nintendo fans globally, who are now eagerly anticipating comparable changes in their respective regions in the near future.