Why are game codes region locked?


It's because of price discrimination. Steam, for example, used to have all its prices in USD, and no games were region locked. Then they switched to regional currencies for price discrimination reasons.

Are game codes region locked?

Just a friendly reminder, all codes are region-locked, meaning, they can only be redeemed on the same region/country they initially purchased from.

Why are digital games region locked?

Besides the law and licensing issues, there is also a financial reason for Steam to region lock their games, since in Russia and other CIS countries prices of games on Steam are much lower than in the EU or North America.

How do you play games that are region locked?

Method 1: Install Country-Restricted Apps From the Play Store Using VPN. The best way to download Android apps is via the Play Store. If the app you're looking for isn't available in your country on the Play Store, don't worry. There's a workaround to downloading it right from the Play Store – through a VPN service.

Are Play Store codes region locked?

Google Play Gift Cards are region-locked. They can only be used in the country, and currency, they were purchased for.

Why are digital games region locked?

Besides the law and licensing issues, there is also a financial reason for Steam to region lock their games, since in Russia and other CIS countries prices of games on Steam are much lower than in the EU or North America.

How do I redeem a region locked code?

In order to redeem a region locked code, your account region has to match your physical location and you have to be in the region the code is for.

Do game codes work worldwide?

Do game codes work worldwide? Generally digital game codes purchased off EA's trusted retailers are not region-locked but may be language-locked.

What is the purpose of region-lock?

Region Lock ensures that you can only use a smartphone in a country the device is made for. In this way, Samsung prevents their devices from being bought up in one market and sold again in another market. If you buy a smartphone in the Netherlands via the official channels, this is a device for the Dutch market.

Are video games banned in any countries?

Mainland China. A very large number of video games are banned in mainland China. Games that depict drugs, sexuality, blood, organized crime or defamation of the Chinese government are almost always banned.

Is the PS1 region free?

The PlayStation and PlayStation 2 are region-locked into three regions: NTSC U/C, NTSC-J, and PAL. However, it is possible to disable region locking on said systems via a modchip or performing a disk-swap when the console starts. In the case of the PlayStation 2, a Swap Magic disc can be used to bypass regional locks.

Does region lock still exist?

Does region locking still exist? There are less and less games that are still region locked. With the venue of the new generation of consoles (Playstation 4 and Xbox One), most of the games are now region free. Now that games can be bought digitally it is more and more difficult to lock them.

Why a game not available in your country?

Unfortunately, you might run into the dreaded ‘this item isn't available in your country' when dealing with geo-restricted apps. Luckily, using a reputable VPN can help you evade these error messages. You'll be able to connect to a server in a country that can access the app and download it without any issues.

Can you gift a region-locked game?

Gifts purchased in certain regions can be redeemed only in those regions. When you purchase a gift you will be notified at checkout of any restrictions that will be placed on the gift.

Why can't i redeem Google Play code?

Make sure you enter the code correctly. Don't use spaces or dashes when you enter the code, and check that you input the correct letters. If it still doesn't work, your gift card may not be activated. Gift cards bought at physical stores must be activated by the seller when they're purchased.

Why can t you trade digital games?

Games purchased digitally are legally licenses and not sold, meaning consumers do not have legal ownership and cannot resell their games. Compared to physically distributed games, digital games cannot be destroyed because they can be redownloaded from the distribution system.

Why are 3DS games region locked?

Yes, the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 2DS, New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, and New Nintendo 2DS XL systems are region locked. Region locking enables Nintendo to include parental controls and more efficiently deliver region-specific system and menu updates to users.

Are digital 3DS games region locked?

3DS games are region locked on 3DS, the only region free software available is the Louvre's guide. DS games (which are playable on 3DS) are by and large region free, so you can buy any DS game from anywhere and play them on any 3DS machine.

Is PS5 Digital Edition region locked?

The PlayStation 4 (PS4, PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro) and PlayStation 5 (PS5, PS5 Digital Edition) hardware isn't region locked, but any available add-on content is tied to a regional PlayStation Store.

Why are digital games region locked?

Besides the law and licensing issues, there is also a financial reason for Steam to region lock their games, since in Russia and other CIS countries prices of games on Steam are much lower than in the EU or North America.

Can you redeem a code from another country?

To redeem a code from another country you need 3 things: A payment card from that country (you could just use a virtual card for that). Set your Microsoft account region to the desired country in account settings. A vpn to look like you are browsing from the desired country.

Can I redeem a Nintendo code from another country?

Nintendo Switch Online membership codes are specific to a particular region, which means they can only be redeemed on systems and/or Nintendo Accounts that are set to that same region.

Can I redeem an Xbox game code from another country?

You can't use this code where you live. You need to use a code from your region. If you moved, go to Settings > System and make sure your location is correct.

Why is CDKeys so cheap?

We buy from all corners of the globe to ensure the cheapest possible prices and as we only sell products in digital form we're able to make significant savings on postage and related expenses – we then pass these reductions on to you, which ensures our pricing is the most competitive around!

Do EU switch game codes work in US?

Do EU Switch game codes work in US? Nintendo eShop Cards are compatible only for the Nintendo eShop country or region where they were intended to be sold. If you purchased a Nintendo eShop Card for a different country or region, we cannot replace it, exchange it, or offer a refund.

Are G2A keys legit?

All the keys are generated by publishers and developers. It also means, that all of the keys on G2A.COM are legit.