Wii U mature content restrictions: Nintendo explains issue

Last week, Wii U was found to be blocking the sale of 18-rated content to children on Nintendo's eShop between 11pm and 3am. Nintendo has now stepped forward to clarify the issue, which is says is related to Germany's hard stance on mature game content.

Eurogamer reports that it was unable to buy ZombiU and Assassin's Creed 3 before 11pm due to the restrictions, which Nintendo has now clarified today in a statement to the site. The company said it is bound by German law on the matter, because Nintendo of Europe is based there - Frankfurt to be precise.

The statement reads, “At Nintendo we always aim to provide a safe gaming experience for fans of all ages and ensure that we comply with applicable legal age restriction requirements across Europe,”

“Legal age restriction requirements vary across a number of European countries. Since Nintendo of Europe is based in Germany, Nintendo eShop is complying with German youth protection regulation which therefore applies to all our European markets. Under German law, content rated 18+ must be made available only at night.

“Therefore the accessibility of 18+ content in Nintendo eShop is limited to [USK: 22:00 UTC until 4:00 UTC] [PEGI: 23:00 UTC until 3:00 UTC].”

USK is the German regulatory standard for mature gaming content, while PEGI applies to the UK, meaning anyone on these shores must wait until 11pm before buying mature content digitally.

What's your take on the matter. It's an odd one that's for sure.