90 days later Steam silently lifts the lock automatically
edit: caveat: 5 year old working knowledge, things may have changed since then
I can at least confirm that this still worked in 2021. Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition has an activation lock and a run lock in Germany. Activated it in April 2021 via Austria. Was and am able to install and play it in Germany since July 2021.
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So if there's a run lock on a game you can't even download it, not to say RUN it, because the install button is not active?
I'm not sure i fully understandI how region redtrictions work. You saying that run lock lifts after 90 days? Ok what if i buy a game in
RU-CIS region with this warning on a store page that says "This game can only be played in a following countries" and all that.
Then let's say i move to Europe and after 90 days i'll be able to play this game in Europe? What's the point of a run lock then?
Also when Steam checks for a RUN lock, what's it looking at, my real location or a current store country?
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A run lock prevents you from installing and playing it. It looks for your current location via IP so if the run lock is for RU-CIS and you move to Europe, you would immediately be able to install and play it.
If you manage to activate the key somehow while staying in RU-CIS, the run lock will be removed automatically and silently after 90 days and you will be able to install and play it even in RU-CIS. At least that's how it worked for me the last time I did something like that in 2021.
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Yes, if they didn't change it since 2021. It's an old secret. I am not sure if it works with purchases made directly on Steam but it should work with activated keys.
Edit: I am actually not 100% sure if it works if the run lock states "can ONLY be run in XXX". I only every tried it with games that had a run lock "can NOT be run in XXX". But it probably works as well.
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Is there some way to check what games (if any) in a steam library have a RUN lock other than manually skim through "licenses and product key activations"? That can be difficult with a big libraries and not 100% reliable because who knows there may not be any region info in the name of activated package and even then not every region restricted package is run locked.
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