Nintendo may be able to brick 3DS consoles running R4 flash carts

If you’re lucky enough to have got your hands on a Nintendo 3DS console early, you’d best think twice before using a flash cartridge with it. It now seems that Nintendo can track handhelds that have used the likes of R4 cartridges, synonymous with game piracy, and brick the offending consoles with an over-the-air firmware update.

Japanese electronics reseller Enterking have gone so far as to issue a warning to those looking to seel 3DS systems that may have been used with fash-cartridges. The warning loosely translated reads:

“Non-purchase able 3DS system: if you use equipment which is illegal or unapproved by Nintendo or if you do customisation which is unapproved by Nintendo, there is a possibility that Nintendo 3DS becomes non-bootable by system update.”

“Because of terms of agreement above, Enterking refuses to buy 3DS system with a record of illegal or unapproved equipment. To protect from leaking your personal and internet connection information, we ask customer to format system.”

While Nintendo do not specifically comment on security measures in their systems, they did pas this message on to the Eurogamer website:

“We do not discuss product security details (for obvious reasons), nor can we discuss the details of countermeasures available in the Nintendo 3DS system.

“Nintendo 3DS has the most up-to-date technology. The security has been designed to protect both the creative works in the software and to protect the Nintendo 3DS hardware system itself.”

Though hardly confirmation, you can be sure that Nintendo have learnt from the mistakes made with the Nintendo DS handheld, which was marred by a rampant piracy scene.

Via: Eurogamer / Go Nintendo