Topic: Buy now, or later? - Region lock worries

Before anyone lynch me for asking the same question everyone else who is new seem to ask as well, please hear me out.

I've played on Nintendo consoles my whole life. I got my NES roughly 20 years ago and love it still, but about 5 years ago I found that it just wasn't as much fun to play on anymore and bought myself a Wii. When I moved to my own place not even two years later, I left my Wii behind since I didn't have the heart to "take it away" from my little brother who played on it MUCH more than me. So I returned to playing on my NES. However, now that I've played on it exclusively for a few years, I once again find myself in the same situation: it just doesn't hold up anymore. It's not that I don't love it, but... I can't buy new games for it and let's face it: even someone who plays only 3-4 hours a month want more modern games at some point. So I decided to buy a new console. And OF COURSE I want it to be a Nintendo one. There is no question if I'm going to but the WiiU or some other console, because I'm nothing if not loyal, but mostly I'm worried about the region lock-thing.

Just to make this very clear: I know NOTHING about technology. I NEED things to be clear and simple when it comes to ANY kind of machine (this coming from a girl who calls her brother to help her set up the console she's owned for 2 decades), and these region locks sound dangerous because I don't know how they work. I live in Sweden and have gotten a job offer in the US. So in January I will be moving to NY. And I have no idea how these region lock-thingies work, which brings me to my question:

If I buy a WiiU now - here in Sweden - and move in a few months to the US... will it work? Will I be able to buy games there and they will work on the WiiU I bought in Sweden? I'm completely clueless. It's not that I can't wait to buy one once I've moved. I've got my NES to play in the meantime. And a GB somewhere (wow, those things are ancient. I hope Nintendo's quality still holds up so I won't need to buy a new console in another 20 years ). But I would prefer to buy a new one now, if I could be certain I won't have trouble with it later.

I would be very grateful for any help.

Sounds like you need to buy a North American version if you are planning on staying in the U.S.A. for a while.

If you don't wait (Or import a US system now) everything will cost loads more.

No, sadly these games won't work.

Think of it like this: a region-lock says that you cannot play games from a different continent than the one you got your console from. In your case, Sweden is part of Europe, and your WiiU would be from Sweden, as well. As such, you can only play european games on it. If you move to NY, you'll either have to order your games from european stores or sites, or you're gonna have to buy another WiiU in the US.
So, with that said, you're better off waiting with the purchase until you switch places.

Ah, that's what I was worried about. Well, I'll just keep to my trusty NES a few more months. Thank you so much for the help everyone. (Darn those locks! D:< )

In US with Wii U from Sweden you still would be able to connect to the european eshop and download games from there. Although I suppose US eshop is cheaper so I'd wait till January and get the console in US. Eventually later use it in Sweden with american eshop

In US with Wii U from Sweden you still would be able to connect to the european eshop and download games from there. Although I suppose US eshop is cheaper so I'd wait till January and get the console in US. Eventually later use it in Sweden with american eshop

Nintendo is the only one who keep this region lock on.... wait and get the US version, or import a wiiu from there with thegames, if youcan t wait.