The New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS LL will come with a pre-installed Internet Browser filter, in a move to increase parental control measures.
Kotaku report that the filter can be deactivated by paying a one-off fee of 30 yen (£0.20 / $0.30), which requires a valid Credit Card be used. Nintendo made the decision to implement such measure in order to “prevent children from looking at harmful websites,” with the Credit Card necessity ensuring that the filter can’t be disabled without parental consent.
Although it remains unclear as to whether Nintendo will choose to do the same when the new handhelds head westward in 2015, or if this immediate restriction will just be for Japan.
This move comes after the company suddenly removed Nintendo Letter Box, or SwapNote, from the handheld after they became aware that the message-sharing service was being “actively misused” to send “offensive material.”
The New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL will release across Japan on October 10th priced at 16,000 and 18,800 yen respectively.
New Nintendo 3DS to have pre-installed Internet Browser filter
