Those of you that wish to import Mario Kart Wii beware, it doesn’t work using Freeloader – a popular tool used to make the Wii region free. Play-Asia.com, a well-known and respected import site, released the following e-mail to its customers:

This is an important e-mail update regarding your pending preorder Mario Kart Wii (w/ Wii Handle) (Nintendo™ Wii Japan, NTSC J)

We received the first small delivery today for testing and unfortunately we have to inform you, that the game is not compatible with the Datel Freeloader (US and PAL Version).

No word has been released on how exactly Nintendo blocked Freeloader from working, but since there was no firmware update issued within the weeks prior to Mario Kart Wii’s release I assume it’s a type of software included with the game. If that is the case, then this may very well be Freeloader’s early exit.

Nine Inch Sandwich