Browsing restrictions on 18+ games removed from Nintendo's European eShop

3DS users can now view and purchase 18+ rated games from the eShop at any time of day, marking the end of Nintendo's previously restrictive policy regarding adult content.

Delivering the news via a message on the front page of the virtual store, Nintendo made the following statement:

"Following analysis of the Parental Controls system on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in cooperation with USK, the German Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body, it was deemed that Nintendo's Parental Control system is of very high quality and offers a remarkable level of protection for children."

"Nintendo's Parental Control system was found to have proved itself in practice."

Up until today, European eShop customers could only view 18+ rated material between the hours of 11pm and 3am.

According to a report by Eurogamer, Nintendo of Europe blamed these restrictions on German regulations, which, as the company's HQ is located in Germany, it was obliged to follow.

Given the relatively low number of 18-rated games on the 3DS - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries are the only PEGI 18 branded titles that spring to mind - this doesn't affect Nintendo's portable gaming fanbase a great deal.

However, it's good to know that players of a certain age can access suitable content without having to wait until the witching hour. Good news for future mature games, too.

The eShop curator added: "Nintendo always encourages parents to make use of Parental Controls to control access to content they deem inappropriate for their children."