Not playable in germany?

[dEEkAy]

First of, i got the normal game in my library, just without any dlcs and i think they cut the violence out a bit.
So as i saw the deal i asked a friend from outside germany, if he could gift it to me so i could play the definitive edition. he said yes, sent me the gift and now im sitting here. i cannot activate that game in germany and it's just sitting there in my inventory now.

Funny thing is, the store page does not say ANYTHING about not being playable in germany.

Any ideas?

[Terminus]

Hey

Kindly have a look through the post Blocked in Germany.

[dEEkAy]

yeah i just found that post and a few news on the web... ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up square enix crap.

had to gift it back to my friend, thank god he was that kind...

atleast a WARNING on the page saying that it can't be activated in the following countries: germany
WOULD help...

[Ryu_Sheng]

Go blame your government, they're the ones with archaic laws

From the Dev:

As you’re probably aware, we were only able to release the original Sleeping Dogs game in Germany back in 2012 by creating a special low-violence edition to comply with German law.

Unfortunately, doing the same thing for the Definitive Edition wasn't feasible. As a result we’re unable to distribute the game in Germany at all. The game is currently indexed to List B in that country. Under German law it’s a criminal offence for Square Enix to distribute the game in any form, plus we must also take reasonable measures to prevent the distribution or import of the game, anywhere in Germany.

They cant get around law

[dEEkAy]

the thing is, there is no law that says i cannot IMPORT a game. yes, there is some kind of law that says i cannot buy certain media (games, movies, etc) in germany. this means i cannot go into kaufland or anywhere else and buy sleeping dogs definitive edition. what i can do by law is import it from another country LEGALLY.

square enix just went over the top with their geolock crap.

other than that, atleast a warning on the store page could have prevented the crap that happened to me and my friend.

left4dead 1 and 2 are both on that said list B and still i can own, import and play them. what i cannot do is open marketing and i cannot buy the uncut version of those games inside germany. there's no store that will sell those officially.

GEOLOCKING ist just an overkill most devs don't get right.

[DanTheKraut]

Originally posted by Rhenthyl:

Go blame your government, they're the ones with archaic laws

From the Dev:

As you’re probably aware, we were only able to release the original Sleeping Dogs game in Germany back in 2012 by creating a special low-violence edition to comply with German law.

Unfortunately, doing the same thing for the Definitive Edition wasn't feasible. As a result we’re unable to distribute the game in Germany at all. The game is currently indexed to List B in that country. Under German law it’s a criminal offence for Square Enix to distribute the game in any form, plus we must also take reasonable measures to prevent the distribution or import of the game, anywhere in Germany.

They cant get around law

They know jacksh*t about our laws and the "Devs" quote only shows this! We already proofed their lack of knowledge with official sources.

The game is not banned (nothing gets banned in Germany except child- and youthporn even if something gets confiscated by a court (for violence, racism and so on) the import/buying and owning is still legal and the selling from person to person is also legal)! It is indexed which means adults only and can be sold to adults in any store in Germany completely legal. The console versions are sold like this but Square Enix plays moral police and blocks the game for german PC customers because of the simple and absurd reason that Steam doesn't offer a age verification (official answer from SE).

Only ones to blame here -> Square Enix ;)

[Ryu_Sheng]

I doubt that since it's not just Square that's done this, it happens with just about every game that tries to get released there.

So either the entire industry are incompetent (quite probably) or geman law is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up and no one is really sure what it is (more likely).

So yeah, given it's a widespread problem you need to gpo and sort it out at the source, your law makers

[dEEkAy]

Originally posted by Rhenthyl:

I doubt that since it's not just Square that's done this, it happens with just about every game that tries to get released there.

So either the entire industry are incompetent (quite probably) or geman law is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up and no one is really sure what it is (more likely).

So yeah, given it's a widespread problem you need to gpo and sort it out at the source, your law makers

i LIFE in germany, believe me. most of these geolocking things happening in the last time are total overreactions. it is not illegal to own, import, play or even sell from person to person. no matter if its on list a or b.

valve did the right thing with left 4 dead (1 and 2). you can buy the CUT version on steam, but not the UNCUT one. if you want the uncut version, you gotta buy it somewhere else. no matter if it's online, outside of germany, imported, gifted or anything else. no geolocking needed as its LEGAL to own A and B listed media.

ofc our lawmakers have something to do with it, but there is no law saying that stuff on list A or B has to be GEOLOCKED. you just can't buy it in the stores on open display.

[DanTheKraut]

Originally posted by Rhenthyl:

I doubt that since it's not just Square that's done this, it happens with just about every game that tries to get released there.

So either the entire industry are incompetent (quite probably) or geman law is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up and no one is really sure what it is (more likely).

So yeah, given it's a widespread problem you need to gpo and sort it out at the source, your law makers

99,99% if the games can be sold here without a problem. 99% of the publishers don't regionlock their games because it is not required by any law!

Square Enix blocked 4 of their games for Germany, Bethesda did it with Wolfenstein and Wolfenstein: TNO that's all games which are blocked here.

Summed up:
Square Enix fault!

Now stop accusing our government because you are complete clueless about our laws and only make yourself look like a fool if you continue to do so!