I live in the US and just got a pal region Monster Hunter Wilds copy for PS5 in the mail. Is it ok to play?

ShadyAcshuns

Gold Member
From what I read, the PS5 is region free, but I have concerns about the future dlc expansion. Anyone know if US PlayStation store content will work with the PAL version?
 
From what I read, the PS5 is region free, but I have concerns about the future dlc expansion. Anyone know if US PlayStation store content will work with the PAL version?

From what I know, the DLC has to be also from the same region, meaning, you'll have to get the DLC from a EU PS storefront - that, or get a US/NTSC copy of Mohun
 
From what I read, the PS5 is region free, but I have concerns about the future dlc expansion. Anyone know if US PlayStation store content will work with the PAL version?
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ShadyAcshuns ShadyAcshuns It's impossible to tell whether or not you will run into trouble with the DLC until it is actually out, because it varies. A lot of third parties (not all, but many, but somehow not Sony) do go to the effort of making the executables for all regions the same (meaning there are no issues with DLC and save file compatibility). However, a lot of them don't, and sometimes even the same publisher can have one game that does have region free DLC, but another that does not.

It's too risky, I would say, especially for a game that will get supported with substantial post launch content, so I say return it and get an NA copy instead.
 
ShadyAcshuns ShadyAcshuns It's impossible to tell whether or not you will run into trouble with the DLC until it is actually out, because it varies. A lot of third parties (not all, but many, but somehow not Sony) do go to the effort of making the executables for all regions the same (meaning there are no issues with DLC and save file compatibility). However, a lot of them don't, and sometimes even the same publisher can have one game that does have region free DLC, but another that does not.

It's too risky, I would say, especially for a game that will get supported with substantial post launch content, so I say return it and get an NA copy instead.
Thanks for the advice. Just contacted Amazon and am returning it. It was a steel books edition, even though it said it was the regular edition, plus it has a huge dent in the bottom of the steel book. Probably would have kept it just for a the collection otherwise.
 
there's no such thing as PAL and NTSC anymore for stuff like this. and unless it's a game with region specific content changes there shouldn't be any compatibility issues really. but I'm not sure really.
 
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there's no such thing as PAL and NTSC anymore for stuff like this. and unless it's a game with region specific content changes there shouldn't be any compatibility issues really.
On PlayStation, there are still five separate regions. Games are simply compatible across those regions, unless a publisher blacklists it.

However, the inter compatibility does not extend to DLC, demos, and saves, because the executables are usually different for different regions. Hence, even though a game bought from Australia can still work on a Swedish PS5, there is a high chance that DLC will not work for it, unless the user ends up making a new PSN Australian account first and then buying the DLC from that.
 
On PlayStation, there are still five separate regions. Games are simply compatible across those regions, unless a publisher blacklists it.

However, the inter compatibility does not extend to DLC, demos, and saves, because the executables are usually different for different regions. Hence, even though a game bought from Australia can still work on a Swedish PS5, there is a high chance that DLC will not work for it, unless the user ends up making a new PSN Australian account first and then buying the DLC from that.

huh... I wonder why that is tho? doesn't really make much sense to have actual regional differences of any kind in place for content matching versions.

I never really tried the limits of this on any system recently, but is this also true on Xbox? because on Xbox the whole regional thing becomes even more blurry as you can literally just change your region with a simple reboot and download the game from the US for example, even if you use a EU disc version as far as I know.
as you can install any game on Xbox even if you don't own it (basically this allows preloading/preinstalling for disc versions you plan to buy).

so I wonder what would happen in such a case... like if you'd download the US version of Mosnter Hunter without owning it digitally, then insert a German disc and try to launch it.
 
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This is a topic that's well studied by trophy hunters since we can earn multiple platinums by playing the different regional versions of the same game. While the PS5 is region-free, DLC unfortunately are almost always region locked. For example, recently I was playing the EU version of Persona 3 Reload. I already owned the American version of the Aigis DLC, but it doesn't work with the EU version of P3R. So I had to use my UK PSN account to repurchase that DLC for the EU version of the DLC.
 
I had the Europoor version of For Honor and bought the US DLC and it didn't work. Had to buy the US version of the game. So, it's possible you could have issues if you try to use Euro game and US DLC.
 
but is this also true on Xbox?
yes and no, it should all be region agnostic, but you might need to use a vpn to redeem a code for content that only activates in a certain region, but if the content is applied to your account it shouldn't matter from what region you got it.
 
And consoles region free.
Well, Nintendo is bringing this back with their new Switch 2 model that's only able to connect online if you have a Japanese Nintendo account (and possible other cross-regional fuckery).
 
huh... I wonder why that is tho? doesn't really make much sense to have actual regional differences of any kind in place for content matching versions.

I never really tried the limits of this on any system recently, but is this also true on Xbox? because on Xbox the whole regional thing becomes even more blurry as you can literally just change your region with a simple reboot and download the game from the US for example, even if you use a EU disc version as far as I know.
as you can install any game on Xbox even if you don't own it (basically this allows preloading/preinstalling for disc versions you plan to buy).

so I wonder what would happen in such a case... like if you'd download the US version of Mosnter Hunter without owning it digitally, then insert a German disc and try to launch it.

Man, it's been like this since the PS3 era, where have you been ? 😁

Again, while the console IS region free and can play physical games from DIFFERENT regions, when it comes to DLC, 99% of the time it has to be from the same region the Disc is from, meaning, a US game is compatible with DLC bought from the American PS storefront, while a EU game/disc can usually only work with DLC bought from a EU PS storefront.

It's nothing new since, again, it's been like this since the PS3 came out.
 
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huh... I wonder why that is tho? doesn't really make much sense to have actual regional differences of any kind in place for content matching versions.

I never really tried the limits of this on any system recently, but is this also true on Xbox? because on Xbox the whole regional thing becomes even more blurry as you can literally just change your region with a simple reboot and download the game from the US for example, even if you use a EU disc version as far as I know.
as you can install any game on Xbox even if you don't own it (basically this allows preloading/preinstalling for disc versions you plan to buy).

so I wonder what would happen in such a case... like if you'd download the US version of Mosnter Hunter without owning it digitally, then insert a German disc and try to launch it.
So I actually know the answers to these!

For Xbox, like you said, there is full flexibility. The executables for a physical game (if it exists), digital game, and across all regions, are the same (unless the publisher specifically chooses to have different ones, for whatever reason). This means no region restriction, full cross compatibility.

For Nintendo, it's very interesting. There is zero physical region locking, and the region of the system can be changed without even a reboot. Nintendo recommends to customers that buying DLC from different store regions may cause issues, but again, unless a publisher specifically chooses to have SKUs for each different region's store, there is full cross compatibility between regions, and between physical and digital games, because Nintendo incentivizes having one universal executable across all builds. In Nintendo's case, there do end up being more games with restrictions than on Xbox, however, because there are so many smaller, regional, indie, and even shovelware games that may have rights issues or partial releases across markets.

PlayStation is the most backward at this. You cannot change your account's region - Sony literally tells you to make a new one if you move regions, actually. As a result of this, the default infrastructure (which Sony uses, and which a lot of third party games also use) signposts and favours different executables for each store, and this creates the issue. On Xbox and Nintendo, the publisher has to go out of their way to stop cross region DLC and saves compatibility; on PlayStation, the publisher has to go out of their way to allow cross region DLC and saves compatibility. And that is why so many games on PlayStation that have this cross region issue. Ultimately this is a relic of the entire PSN infrastructure still being built on the PS3 era PSN, and Sony not having overhauled it after all this time. Microsoft is a software and network company, of course their network infrastructure was always going to be cutting edge and upgradeable. Nintendo's original networks (WFC and Nintendo Network) were even worse about these kinds of restrictions, the only reason Nintendo is better about this now is because it got to throw out the entire old infrastructure and do a full reboot with the Switch. But Sony has been stuck with building on the PS3 era PSN, and the result is this kind of bullshit.

TL;DR when it comes to cross region compatibility, it is Xbox>Nintendo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PlayStation
 
So I actually know the answers to these!

For Xbox, like you said, there is full flexibility. The executables for a physical game (if it exists), digital game, and across all regions, are the same (unless the publisher specifically chooses to have different ones, for whatever reason). This means no region restriction, full cross compatibility.

For Nintendo, it's very interesting. There is zero physical region locking, and the region of the system can be changed without even a reboot. Nintendo recommends to customers that buying DLC from different store regions may cause issues, but again, unless a publisher specifically chooses to have SKUs for each different region's store, there is full cross compatibility between regions, and between physical and digital games, because Nintendo incentivizes having one universal executable across all builds. In Nintendo's case, there do end up being more games with restrictions than on Xbox, however, because there are so many smaller, regional, indie, and even shovelware games that may have rights issues or partial releases across markets.

PlayStation is the most backward at this. You cannot change your account's region - Sony literally tells you to make a new one if you move regions, actually. As a result of this, the default infrastructure (which Sony uses, and which a lot of third party games also use) signposts and favours different executables for each store, and this creates the issue. On Xbox and Nintendo, the publisher has to go out of their way to stop cross region DLC and saves compatibility; on PlayStation, the publisher has to go out of their way to allow cross region DLC and saves compatibility. And that is why so many games on PlayStation that have this cross region issue. Ultimately this is a relic of the entire PSN infrastructure still being built on the PS3 era PSN, and Sony not having overhauled it after all this time. Microsoft is a software and network company, of course their network infrastructure was always going to be cutting edge and upgradeable. Nintendo's original networks (WFC and Nintendo Network) were even worse about these kinds of restrictions, the only reason Nintendo is better about this now is because it got to throw out the entire old infrastructure and do a full reboot with the Switch. But Sony has been stuck with building on the PS3 era PSN, and the result is this kind of bullshit.

TL;DR when it comes to cross region compatibility, it is Xbox>Nintendo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PlayStation


interesting. I knew all about the region switching and region specific accounts (you basically have to living in germany for a multitude of reasons, one of which being Sony's ridiculous USK18 limitations for free 2 play games)

but it is interesting how there's differences like these. seems very unnecessary unless a game has a specific Japanese version for example etc.
 
Man, it's been like this since the PS3 era, where have you been ? 😁

Again, while the console IS region free and can play physical games from DIFFERENT regions, when it comes to DLC, 99% of the time it has to be from the same region the Disc is from, meaning, a US game is compatible with DLC bought from the American PS storefront, while a EU game/disc can usually only work with DLC bought from a EU PS storefront.

It's nothing new since, again, it's been like this since the PS3 came out.

well I knew it was like that on PS3. I was under the assumption that things changed since then. they apparently have on Xbox and Nintendo systems. so Sony is now the only one left with these restrictions being the default it seems
 
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From what I read, the PS5 is region free, but I have concerns about the future dlc expansion. Anyone know if US PlayStation store content will work with the PAL version?
Take it as a sign to join us in Eurogaf. We have free health care with long waiting times and democracy without free speach. What's not to love?!
 
dlc is the real problem when playing foreign disc games,it has to be the same region /w your psn account
I was just about to say...DLC is still a sticking point when getting any physical from another region, and it sucks. Got physical copy of Like a Dragon Gaiden, and thought "well both versions on the disc, should be fine..." and bought the DLC on my US account....it was not fine.
 
A work around on the dlc front would be to create a region account that works with that code then enable console sharing and off-line play, so you can use it on your main account.
 
Launch the game, open the DLC menu (there's some cosmetics in there), see if the DLC is priced in $ or in £.
Not ideal but will give you an idea if future expansions are going to be in £ or $.
 
Launch the game, open the DLC menu (there's some cosmetics in there), see if the DLC is priced in $ or in £.
Not ideal but will give you an idea if future expansions are going to be in £ or $.
Got a full refund from Amazon plus I get to keep the game. Put in the game with all the updates, checked the store from the game's menu, and everything is in US dollars. Downloaded the free stuff and it all works. Everything should be good to go.
 
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PAL/UK and US versions are exactly the same, with the exception of in the UK version the mons are more polite to your face, but are actually insufferable donkeys that talk behind your hunter's back.
 
I use games from many different regions on my PS5 with my one main account.

Free updates just work, and if you give a damn about paid DLC, set up an account for each region and you can get it from their store. The DLC is still playable on your main account.
 
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