Possible to purchase game codes over Steam?

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danilogus Jun 22, 2018 @ 5:01am

Possible to purchase game codes over Steam?

Hey guys I'm wondering if it is at all possible to purchase a game code that is activateble on Steam over the Steam Store and not a shady third party website?
How do people end up with those kinds of activation code?

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Originally posted by The Maddog:

Originally posted by danilogus:
if it is at all possible to purchase a game code that is activateble on Steam over the Steam Store

Assuming you're talking about general use of Steam as a customer...

If you buy a game on Steam it activates on your Steam account. If you plan to gift a game to someone you gift it to their Steam account. No code needed.

Beyond selling the code on a 3rd party site, what do you need a code for? You cant re-sell activated games.

If you're retailer selling game codes to activate on Steam (plenty of sites are legit) then there are channels to go through to buy them in bulk.

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Showing 1-12 of 12 comments

Seretti Jun 22, 2018 @ 5:04am

You can buy Steam keys from authorized resellers like Humble Bundle or Fanatical.

More authorized resellers are listed here: https://isthereanydeal.com/

Tzafad Jun 22, 2018 @ 5:04am

You can't.

danilogus Jun 22, 2018 @ 5:05am

Oh, I see, thank you for the clarification guys. Much obliged!

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The Maddog Jun 22, 2018 @ 5:10am

Originally posted by danilogus:
if it is at all possible to purchase a game code that is activateble on Steam over the Steam Store

danilogus Jun 22, 2018 @ 5:37am

I was just curious to see how the system works, tried Google-ing the answer but couldn't find it. I'm guessing if I want to purchase codes in bulk I would have to get in touch with the studio that produces the game, right? :) (thank you for the lengty response <3 )

The Maddog Jun 22, 2018 @ 6:09am

Originally posted by danilogus:
I was just curious to see how the system works, tried Google-ing the answer but couldn't find it. I'm guessing if I want to purchase codes in bulk I would have to get in touch with the studio that produces the game, right? :) (thank you for the lengty response <3 )

You dont always go to the studio. Most of the time you just buy them wholesale from a publisher rather than the dev studio itself but it really depends on various factors.

https://wholesgame.com/trade-info/where-to-buy-wholesale-cd-keys-or-game-codes-for-pc-games/

karatedog Feb 14, 2024 @ 1:02am

Originally posted by The Maddog:
Originally posted by danilogus:
if it is at all possible to purchase a game code that is activateble on Steam over the Steam Store

If you buy a game on Steam it activates on your Steam account. If you plan to gift a game to someone you gift it to their Steam account. No code needed.

This requires me to know the name of the "friend" on Steam and be connected to them.
In my case there is a sale that is running out, I'm at my workplace and I would like to buy a game for my 2 daughters (We Were Here Forever).

They are not my "friend" on Steam,as I have never played with them (they themselves do), so the cleanest way to buy the game is to buy quickly 2 codes, then give them those codes in the evening.
This is how I buy games on Humblebundle, unfortunately this game sell twice the price there so that's not an option.

Buying a code means you don't decide immediately who you gift the game to, but you will decide later. It is funny that Steam can generate code for 3rd parties to sell, and accept it within its own ecosystem, but it is unable to sell the same kind of codes that 3rd parties do.

Pierce Dalton Feb 14, 2024 @ 1:09am

Originally posted by karatedog:
Originally posted by The Maddog:

If you buy a game on Steam it activates on your Steam account. If you plan to gift a game to someone you gift it to their Steam account. No code needed.

This requires me to know the name of the "friend" on Steam and be connected to them.
In my case there is a sale that is running out, I'm at my workplace and I would like to buy a game for my 2 daughters (We Were Here Forever).

They are not my "friend" on Steam,as I have never played with them (they themselves do), so the cleanest way to buy the game is to buy quickly 2 codes, then give them those codes in the evening.
This is how I buy games on Humblebundle, unfortunately this game sell twice the price there so that's not an option.

Buying a code means you don't decide immediately who you gift the game to, but you will decide later. It is funny that Steam can generate code for 3rd parties to sell, and accept it within its own ecosystem, but it is unable to sell the same kind of codes that 3rd parties do.

There was a time when that was possible, you were able to buy a game and keep it in your inventory, then gift it to someone whenever you want. I think the feature was dropped because of scammers emptying people's inventory.

ReBoot Feb 14, 2024 @ 1:12am

Originally posted by karatedog:
Originally posted by The Maddog:

If you buy a game on Steam it activates on your Steam account. If you plan to gift a game to someone you gift it to their Steam account. No code needed.

This requires me to know the name of the "friend" on Steam and be connected to them.
In my case there is a sale that is running out, I'm at my workplace and I would like to buy a game for my 2 daughters (We Were Here Forever).

They are not my "friend" on Steam,as I have never played with them (they themselves do), so the cleanest way to buy the game is to buy quickly 2 codes, then give them those codes in the evening.
This is how I buy games on Humblebundle, unfortunately this game sell twice the price there so that's not an option.

Buying a code means you don't decide immediately who you gift the game to, but you will decide later. It is funny that Steam can generate code for 3rd parties to sell, and accept it within its own ecosystem, but it is unable to sell the same kind of codes that 3rd parties do.

Add them through Steam. The next Steam sale is a question of "when", not "whether". Add your daughters, add the game to your wishlist so you'll get notified the next time it's on sale and gift it then. Inventory gifts, the kind you put into your inventory and then send later to whomever you desire, used to be a thing, people abused them to run own businesses atop of Steam, Valve stopped issuing inventory gifts. As usual some have to ruin it for everyone.

Last edited by ReBoot; Feb 14, 2024 @ 1:15am

Kargor Feb 14, 2024 @ 1:13am

Originally posted by karatedog:
This is how I buy games on Humblebundle, unfortunately this game sell twice the price there so that's not an option.

You can still check isthereanydeal, as always.

For this particular game[isthereanydeal.com] it won't help you much, though -- the game is only sold on Steam and Humblebundle. Some games simply aren't sold through a lot of stores.

It is funny that Steam can generate code for 3rd parties to sell, and accept it within its own ecosystem, but it is unable to sell the same kind of codes that 3rd parties do.

It's because they see no need to sell keys to end-users. Can't say I disagree, even though you can't print a gift and gift-wrap it like you could with a key.

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