PS3 Region Lock Exists

[gameoverDude]

PS3 actually has region locking capability. The first game to use it is Persona 4 Arena. I know there's a P4A topic but wanted to keep this separate from the game discussion.

Sure looks like this came from the Japanese higher-ups at Atlus, since they're afraid of Japanese PS3 owners importing American copies for lower prices esp. when the JPN and USA release dates are so close.

Let's hope this doesn't become a new trend.

Atlus forums - users talk about P4A being region locked.

[Yoshi]

If I'm not mistaken, there was already an example of region locking prior to P4A, so this is not new. Thankfully, it's clearly not much of an issue either since P4A is getting so much flack for it.

edit: There was apparently a region locked WRC game, as well as an obscure dating sim. And Stranglehold was announced as region locked but changed before release.