[GUIDE] How to find out if a game is RU region-locked and how to buy it yourself.

This is a guide on how to find out if a game in RU region-locked or not.

All you'll need is your local Steam Store web page, the Russian Steam Store web page (just add /?cc=ru at the end of the URL) and Steam Databade.

I would suggest to use two different web browsers (Chrome and Firefox), one for your local Steam store and one for the RU Steam store, so you wont be confused with the procedure

TIP: You can also use the SteamDB Userscript for finding the Steam Database page of the desired game quicker. It would make the procedure more handy if you install it on both browsers. (thanks /u/xPaw)

You can also use this web app to check region-locks too. (thanks to /u/nehalvpatel)

Try the Brazilian Steam store if the RU version of the game is region-locked.

There are 3 categories of games that are available for purchase from the RU Steam.

1) Games that are region-buy locked and region-play locked. These games have a separate code entry in the Steam Database compared to your region's code entry. In other words, games that although can be bought from the RU Store (through a VPN/proxy, more on that later), they can't be played outside that region.

2) Games that are region-buy locked but non region-play locked. These games have a separate code entry in the Steam Database compared to your region's code entry but have an exception. In other words, games that can be bought from the RU Store (through a VPN/proxy) but can be played anywhere.

3) Games that aren't region-buy locked nor region-play locked. These games share the same code entry in Steam Database, like the one in your region's store. In other words games you can buy without a doubt.

Category No.1:

• Step 1. Go to your region's Steam page and find a game that you are interested. In this case The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. {pic}

• Step 2. Now open the Russian Steam store on a separate browser and copy/paste the URL of your previous store page. {pic 1} -> {pic 2} -> {pic 3}

• Step 3. Go back to you local Steam store page and mouse over the green "ADD TO CART" button and you'll see a code in the bottom left corner of your browser, write it down. Now do the same for the RU Steam store game.

  As you can see those codes are different.

• Step 4. Go to steamdb.info and paste at the end of the URL the /app/xxxxx part of the Steam store page. {pic 1} -> {pic 2}

• Step 5. Click on the "Packages" tab find the two entries that have the code that you got from the mouse-over trick. In this case 12248 - Skyrim (your local Steam store) and 19255 - Skyrim RU (the RU Steam store).

  As you can see the 12248 - Skyrim doesn't state any restriction, compared to the 19255 - Skyrim RU that states "onlyallowrunincountries = AM AZ BY GE KZ KG MD TJ TM UZ UA RU" (that can be played only in these regions) and "PurchaseRestrictedCountries = AM AZ BY GE KZ KG MD TJ TM UZ UA RU" (that can be bought only from those regions).

  It seems that Skyrim RU version is region-buy and region-play locked. I'm sorry no luck! :/

Category No.2:

• Step 1. For this case Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition fits like a glove. It's on sale too! ;) {pic}

• Repeat Step 2. to Step. 4.

• Step 5. Click on the "Packages" tab find the two entries that have the code that you got from the mouse-over trick. In this case 29006 - Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition (your local Steam store) and 29307 - Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition (RU/CIS) (the RU Steam store).

  As you can see the 29006 - Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition doesn't have any restriction (only restricted Germany, Korea and Japan, that's due to local legal issues and censorship, just ignore it) and 29307 - Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition (RU/CIS) only states "PurchaseRestrictedCountries = AM AZ BY GE KZ KG MD RU TJ TM UZ UA (that can be bought only from those regions).

  You can buy it from the RU Steam store and play in without any risk. :)

Category No.3:

*Step 1. For this case we'll use Terraria.

• Repeat Step 2. to Step. 4.

• Step 5. The codes that you took from the mouse-over trick are the same for both markets (your local and RU). In the Steam Database page you wont see any restriction at all. You can buy the game and it'll work. :)

VPN/Proxy and buying from Russian Steam store

TO be able to buy from the Russian Steam store you have to make Steam think that you are located in Russia. To do that you can use any free VPN service of your choice, but I would recommend a handy browser plugin Hola.

• Step 1. Open the Steam Store web page on your secondary browser with Hola installed and click on the flame icon to change the flag to the Russian one, so it will think that you are from Russia and create a new Steam account. {pic 1} - {pic 2} - {pic3}

• Steap 2. Add the game that you want to buy in your cart (make sure it's not region locked!) and click on PURCHASE AS GIFT

• Step 3. Choose the Email my gift option to send the gift directly to your email.

• Step 4. Choose your payment method. It worked for me using a MasterCard debit card, you can try and see what method works for you.

Happy shopping! :)

Disclaimer

Use this guide on your own risk. I'm not responsible for any overcharge or banning status of your Steam account. If you aren't comfortable with using this method then you can always find a Russian trader at Steamrades.com and send him money through trading at the Steam Market by buying a marketable item (gamecard, hats etc.) plus 15% of Steam fees on the total amount of the money sent.

This method works with a new Steam account too, but you have to enable SteamGuard for at least 30 days and have at least a game purchased on that account to be able to trade.

Credits go to CyberMarco and 2 redditors, /u/xPaw and /u/nehalvpatel. Source