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Do Steam now tie country restrictions on accounts?

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Doomer

Hi guys,

I'm owner of a thread on Steam Forums called "Ftee Steam games list" and usually I use VPN to bypass Steam region restriction to test some free game available in an specific region.

Now I'm trying a recently released game on Steam not available in my region, Grand Chase, but even when I connect with my account using another country as ISP, the storefront returns that the game is not available to my region! How can I avoid this? There's any way to ckech where this country setting is tied in my account?

I have a backup account and for this, the workaround to reach the restricted game works fine...

Thanks a lot and regards

Edit: I solved this problem spending all money available on Steam Wallet. Probably it's dominant when have some value loaded there. I still can not say that I'm on another country in a checkout test, but the content available for free can be accessed without problems when you don't have Wallet loaded.

9 years ago*

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25 Comments
PsyKo

SteamGifts hates those three letters, don't expect much love and help.

9 years ago
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zeroxxx

VPN VPN VPN!

Who dares challenge me!????

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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Breakfast

As far as I'm concerned, restrictions always existed. Isn't that why you used VPN in the first place? And besides, doing so can compromise your account.

9 years ago
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Doomer

I'm not bypassing restriction to play or take advantages to purchase content, I'm just testing free content to build the Free Steam games list http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851573

9 years ago
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Zlia

From what I can tell it takes my billing address rather than my current location. I've been using my UK "address" as a billing address for a while and in more recent sales it started forcing me to switch to the UK store when trying to buy something even when I'm home in Bulgaria for the holidays.
(To say that I'm kiinda freaked out that they might think I'm using VPN is an understatement. :P )

9 years ago
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GeitFTW

It is easy to fix. Go to steamprices.com, find the game, make sure you got countrys selected, click on price and it will get you to the game, but make sure you have same IP as the country/area selected. Then you can check out and prices will be changed for everything according to the region after that.

9 years ago
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PathfinderZ1

I believe so, yes. I live in Egypt and I, for some reason cannot access GTA IV's steam store page for some reason, Tried buying it on GMG only to have the support tell me it's 'restricted' in my area. :/

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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Jokery

and if i go to russia and buy from there a game using my steam account on a nearby pc/laptop ?:D

9 years ago
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antiHiko

you could buy it using russian currency... good luck for the trip!

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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sviat

You can make a new account, buy games there and keep them in the inventory, and trade them after 30 days.

9 years ago
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madjoki

or instantly send as a gift.

Be warned: I've heard Steam tracking these ("wrong-contry") accounts used to self gift and banning those users.

9 years ago
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sviat

I was just wondering, I don't do this.

9 years ago
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gigapudding

You should stop using vpn, it can get you into trouble on steam.

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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Sisyphus

Until you start posting on open forums about doing it. All it takes is one knucklehead to report you.

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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gigapudding

I think steam actually mentions somewhere in the licences that noone reads it's against their legal agreement or whatever to use VPN, unlike driving a car.

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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gigapudding

Driving a car on the road is legal, but drving a car over at pedestrian zones is not even though you can decide to do that.

9 years ago
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Zomby
(Ultra Moderator)

It's not illegal to use a VPN, as you're not breaking any law. However you're breaking the TOS and Valve is therefore allowed to limit your account.

9 years ago
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9 years ago
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madjoki

Just add

?cc=[two letter country code]

Works without any proxy.

9 years ago
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Closed 8 years ago by Doomer.