Home Gaming Steam’s upped its gifting regional restrictions

Steam’s upped its gifting regional restrictions

1 min read
21

Steam

For a long time now, Steam’s been trying to crack down on the practice of people buying cheap games from regions where the marketplace dictates that games sell for less than the $60 most new retail games command. They been implementing all manner of new checks, along with restrictions on how the Steam gift-trading works. They’re now getting even tougher.

Steam users in countries from regions with those cheap games – places like Eastern Europe and South America, and Asia – are finding that once a gift has been purchased from within a certain region’s Steam Store, it can only then be redeemed from within the same circle of countries.

Further to that, players have found that once the gift has been accepted – and installed, by virtue of VPN, or what have you, it will only then run in that country. Steam even warns that using a VPN to bypass the geo-fencing is a violation of the system’s terms. Here’s what the messages say, when buying Steam gifts from within the affected regions.

This is a restricted gift which can only be redeemed in these countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

In addition, if you decide to redeem this restricted gift, you can only play it within the countries listed above.

Note that using an IP proxy or other methods to disguise the place of your residence to activate this gift is a violation of the Steam Subscriber Agreement and may result in restrictions on this Steam account.

It’s all mostly fair if you ask me. People have been bypassing Valve’s territorial stuff for too long, getting games for less than market value – and giving places like G2A an avenue to sell illicit keys. The only issue – and it’s a real one – is that if people move countries (which is a thing that actually happens) they’ll end up being out of their games.

Last Updated: March 12, 2015

21 Comments

  1. Captain JJ the damned

    March 12, 2015 at 13:35

    This is fair.
    Don’t be cheap.

    Reply

    • Rock789

      March 12, 2015 at 13:45

      That’s rich coming from a Steam user! **runs**
      :p

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        March 12, 2015 at 13:55

        We’d tell you to shut up, but shut up isn’t on steam sale right now.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the damned

          March 12, 2015 at 14:33

          😀

          Reply

      • Captain JJ the damned

        March 12, 2015 at 14:31

        My library disagrees 😉

        Reply

  2. Chaos Lord Norm

    March 12, 2015 at 13:43

    My steam machine is ready.

    Reply

  3. Chaos Lord Norm

    March 12, 2015 at 13:48

    “The only issue – and it’s a real one – is that if people move countries
    (which is a thing that actually happens) they’ll end up being out of
    their games.”

    Would be nice for there to be a process of ‘applying’ to have your games moved to you new country of residence.

    Reply

  4. Sir Captain Senior the First

    March 12, 2015 at 13:51

    Geoff, the grammar of the header. The horror.

    Reply

    • Sir Captain Senior the First

      March 12, 2015 at 13:53

      If you guys need an editor I’m in XD (btw, that one the gift has been accepted – should be once)

      Reply

  5. Viking Of Science

    March 12, 2015 at 13:54

    @OddSockZA:disqus , I Believe those restrictions are only applicable to gifts. If I live in Singapore and Buy games for myself. Then move to say… Germany, Then Surely the games you legitimately bought for yourself should work no matter the region.

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      March 12, 2015 at 13:57

      Yes, it’s specific to gifting – but that’s how may of the dodgy backdoor deals were done.

      Reply

      • Viking Of Science

        March 12, 2015 at 13:59

        that’s good to know… oh and also

        *many

        Reply

  6. Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event

    March 12, 2015 at 14:29

    To alleviate your worries.Steam has checks in place. This past holiday I was partying in Brazil,Argentina and Chile but also had my laptop with me (for WoW purposes). When I tried to log into steam it immediately gave me conflicting geoip messages and told me that if I wanna switch over to my new location I can do so but i could only do so a few times based on my exceptional account standing.

    I did not switch but still. Nice to know.

    Reply

  7. Wyzak

    March 12, 2015 at 14:46

    And if people from those countries holiday overseas? Is it fair that they can’t play their legally bought games then?

    Reply

    • Uberutang

      March 13, 2015 at 13:58

      VPN

      Reply

      • Wyzak

        March 13, 2015 at 17:00

        That’s a pretty piss-poor solution. Steam needs to realize that people will travel overseas from time to time and needs to take that into account when they do stuff like this. If not, I see the view that Steam’s DRM is lenient changing soon.

        Reply

  8. hippecampre

    March 12, 2015 at 17:16

    whenever steam is gone i will consider buying another pc game. not before.

    Reply

    • Uberutang

      March 13, 2015 at 13:59

      You do know that there are several digital stores on-line, not just steam. Steam just happens to be the biggest and most awesome.

      Reply

  9. Joe Black

    March 12, 2015 at 21:25

    A flat average price would be nice. I think we pay top dollar.

    Reply

  10. Deceased

    March 13, 2015 at 10:39

    This is all good and well… the real question is… when will I be able to get Max Payne 1 and 2 in South Africa?!

    Reply

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