In short
Are the PS5 and Switch 2 region locked?
No. Games are not region locked on either console. Sony confirmed in 2020 that PS5 games play on any PS5, and Nintendo says Switch 2 game cards are not region locked. Stores, gift cards and the Switch 2 warranty do follow region. MSRP Crypto sells the US models, checked on 30 October 2026.
What is region locked on each console?
| Platform | Physical games | Digital store | Gift cards | Warranty abroad | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 and PS5 Pro | Not region locked | Follows the region of your PlayStation account | Locked to the account region | Not covered by our sources | Sony FAQ via Game Informer (2020); CoinGate |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Game cards not region locked | Follows the country of your Nintendo Account | eShop cards work only in their intended country | Only in the country or region of intended sale | Nintendo Support |
| Switch 2, Japan-only model | Japanese language only | Needs a Nintendo Account set to Japan | — | — | VGC (2025) |
| Xbox Series X and Series S | Not region locked, per Microsoft at launch in 2020 | Not covered by our sources | Not covered by our sources | Not covered by our sources | WinFuture (2020) |
Prices and facts checked on 30 October 2026.
Is the PS5 region locked?
No, not for games. Sony said in its PS5 FAQ of 9 November 2020 that PS5 games are not region locked. A disc from Europe, Asia or Latin America plays on a US PS5, and the reverse is true.
The store is different. The PlayStation Store follows the region of your PlayStation account. PlayStation gift cards sold for crypto by Bitrefill or CoinGate are locked to the account region too. Buy cards for the region of your own account.
Films are a separate case. Sony's statement covers games, and secondary sources disagree on Blu-ray and DVD films. We make no claim about film discs.
Is the Switch 2 region locked?
No, not for game cards. Nintendo's regional FAQ for the Americas says Switch 2 game cards are not region locked. Three related points do depend on region:
- The eShop is set by the country of your Nintendo Account, not by the console.
- eShop cards work only in the country or region they were sold for.
- Extra content (DLC) compatibility depends on each game.
The warranty is the strictest point. Nintendo says the limited warranty applies only in the country or region where the console was meant to be sold.
Which Switch 2 is region locked?
The Japan-only model. According to VGC, Nintendo sells a cheaper Switch 2 in Japan at 49,980 yen. It supports only Japanese and only a Nintendo Account set to Japan. Nintendo's multilingual model costs 69,980 yen on its Japanese store.
That Japan-only console is a poor buy outside Japan. If you import a Switch 2, check that it is not that model. The Switch 2 we sell comes from Nintendo's US price list.
Can I use my own account on a US console?
Yes. On a PS5, the store you see follows your PlayStation account region. On a Switch 2, the eShop follows the country of your Nintendo Account. Your digital purchases stay tied to your account, not to the console's country of sale.
This is why a US console fits buyers abroad: you keep your local account and local store. For payment, see Buy a PS5 with Bitcoin or Buy a Nintendo Switch 2 with crypto.
What should I check before buying a US console?
| Check | PS5 | Switch 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Will my games work? | Yes, games are not region locked | Yes, game cards are not region locked |
| Which store will I see? | The store of my account region | The eShop of my account country |
| Which gift cards work? | Cards for my account region | Cards for my account country |
| Is the warranty valid where I live? | Not covered by our sources | Only in the region of intended sale |
| Is it the right model? | US model from PlayStation Direct | US model, not the Japan-only one |
Prices and facts checked on 30 October 2026.
Questions about console region locks
Does a US PS5 work in Europe?
Yes, for games. Sony says PS5 games are not region locked. You sign in with your own account and see your own region's store.
Can I use a US PlayStation gift card on a UK account?
No. PlayStation gift cards are locked to the region of the account. Buy cards for your account's region.
Are Switch 2 eShop cards region free?
No. Nintendo says eShop cards work only in the country or region they were intended for.
Is the Switch 2 warranty valid in Europe for a US console?
Nintendo says the limited warranty applies only in the country or region where the console was meant to be sold. For a US console, that is the US region.
Is the Xbox Series X region locked?
Microsoft confirmed at the 2020 launch that Xbox Series X and S games are not region locked, according to WinFuture. We did not find an official Microsoft page to confirm it today.
Sources
- PS5 games won't be region locked — Game Informer (10 November 2020)
- Buy PSN gift card with crypto — CoinGate (read 30 October 2026)
- Nintendo Switch 2 Regional Compatibility FAQ — Nintendo Support (Americas) (read 30 October 2026)
- Nintendo will sell a cheaper Switch 2 in Japan that's region locked — VGC (2 April 2025)
- Microsoft bestätigt: Xbox Series X/S weiterhin ohne Region-Lock — WinFuture (2020)
- PlayStation 5 Pro console, 2 TB — PlayStation Direct US (checked 30 October 2026)
- DualSense Wireless Controller — PlayStation Direct US (checked 30 October 2026)