Nintendo promises 3DS systems used for pirated games won’t be displaying anything in 3D

Nintendo’s new 3DS handheld was released in Japan on February 26th, and it was hacked quickly. Apparently, some people would rather play old DS games and tool around with myriad homebrew applications than play legit new titles in 3D sans glasses.

Unsurprisingly, Nintendo isn’t too keen on such unauthorized use of its DS successor. The company’s own Terms of Agreement warns against tampering with the system and playing pirated games. A retailer put out a warning to gamers: modify the machine, and it will be bricked via firmware.

The information comes in the form of a warning posted by Enterking, a Japanese retailer that stocks the new system. GoNintendo posted the translated message which supports the idea that illegal activity on the system, such as the use of flashcarts, could lead to Nintendo effectively shutting down the system via a firmware update. The online functionality of the handheld would theoretically make it easier for Nintendo to detect unauthorized usage and react accordingly, though the retailer’s notice was more to inform buyers that if they did purchase a 3DS and saw it bricked they wouldn’t have any luck selling it back. Enterking flatly stated, “[We] refuse to buy 3DS systems with a record of illegal or unapproved equipment.”

It’s unknown if U.S. stores will afford customers a similar warning when the 3DS launches here on March 27th.