Topic: What is the deal with the region locking

I really want the black new 3ds but if I want it in English I have to get the one from the uk will my downloaded games on my old 3ds work on the uk one and will physical copies work(i'm in America)

Short answer physical copies won't work at all, not sure about digital though. Maybe if you bought them from the NA eshop but I am not sure.

I'm pretty sure digital would also be tied to the UK too, my friends have japanese dses to download japanese digital games and physical ones ofc

if you buy a UK console you can only use PAL carts and only download from the UK eShop. Maybe you should wait and see what the Nintendo Direct says tomorrow night. They might announce the black one.