Travelling and Steam Regions

[goofy ♡]

Hello!

If I am going to be travelling to another country would I be able to purchase games while I'm there? I already own a Turkish card from previous visits and was wondering if it would be against the rules to purchase some games while I am there. I would play them too as it wouldn't be a visit purely to take advantage of the reduced pricing, I would just get games because I would also play them while I was there.

I would just like to know if that's something I would be able to do.

[Saracchini (on Fire!)]

If you travel to another country, the shop currency and payment method will remain as the one of your country of residence. You can buy, browse and play games as normally.

It changes only if you explicitly change it to a new one, which means it will ask you a new payment source from this new country. In the case of cheaper regions (specially CIS countries) you may be affected by a region lock and you will be able to play it in a different region only after 90 days. Also, if I recall correctly, Steam locks you to the new country for at least few months, so you cant just change back and forwards. Give a look here: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/58D3-B80D-2943-3CC6

I travel very often, and resided in different countries and never ever had any issues to access my library or buy games when traveling. However I use ONLY the payment of the country I'm currently living, and change only when I'm settled in the other one. If you are staying for a short period, as in for a trip, do not change it.

[goofy ♡]

Originally posted by Saracchini (on Fire!):

If you travel to another country, the shop currency and payment method will remain as the one of your country of residence. You can buy, browse and play games as normally.

It changes only if you explicitly change it to a new one, which means it will ask you a new payment source from this new country. In the case of cheaper regions (specially CIS countries) you may be affected by a region lock and you will be able to play it in a different region only after 90 days. Also, if I recall correctly, Steam locks you to the new country for at least few months, so you cant just change back and forwards. Give a look here: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/58D3-B80D-2943-3CC6

I travel very often, and resided in different countries and never ever had any issues to access my library or buy games when traveling. However I use ONLY the payment of the country I'm currently living, and change only when I'm settled in the other one. If you are staying for a short period, as in for a trip, do not change it.

I'm aware of the fact that the region would be locked for 3 months however I'm okay with that. even if I stay in the country for two months and then return and then when I'm back I revert to my native country id be willing to do that. While I'm not going to Turkey for the sole reason of getting cheaper games, I would be interested in buying some while I'm there therefore as I own a Turkish card I would use that due to the fact it would be cheaper and I'm actually in the country. I just don't want to accidentally face any account bans due to me using a different card and being in a different country to then return to my normal country a month later.

Do you have any experiences with changing the region or using a card native to the country you're visiting or no?
As i explained, due to me having a turkish card it would change the region however I dont want to face account restrictions if I then return to my normal country and they get confused why ive got a turkish account while being somewhere else

[Mos]

no cs bcz of travel... warcrime !

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

as it wouldn't be a visit purely to take advantage of the reduced pricing

And:

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

While I'm not going to Turkey for the sole reason of getting cheaper games,

But it is about the reduced pricing and cheaper games.

[goofy ♡]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

as it wouldn't be a visit purely to take advantage of the reduced pricing

And:

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

While I'm not going to Turkey for the sole reason of getting cheaper games,

But it is about the reduced pricing and cheaper games.

I basically said the same thing twice I’m confused by your point?

Both times I said I’m not going to turkey just to abuse the game price restrictions

[Wolf Knight]

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

And:



But it is about the reduced pricing and cheaper games.

I basically said the same thing twice I’m confused by your point?

Both times I said I’m not going to turkey just to abuse the game price restrictions

travel does not mean you change regions. you change regions when you are moving to another country and will be living there for an extended period of time. if you are only going to be there a few months, there is no reason for a change unless you are trying to bypass region restrictions and/or abuse local pricing to get cheaper games. and by what you have posted, that is what you are doing.

if steam fells you are trying to abuse and/or bypass region restrictions/pricing, they can lock the account.

[Saracchini (on Fire!)]

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

Originally posted by Saracchini (on Fire!):

If you travel to another country, the shop currency and payment method will remain as the one of your country of residence. You can buy, browse and play games as normally.

It changes only if you explicitly change it to a new one, which means it will ask you a new payment source from this new country. In the case of cheaper regions (specially CIS countries) you may be affected by a region lock and you will be able to play it in a different region only after 90 days. Also, if I recall correctly, Steam locks you to the new country for at least few months, so you cant just change back and forwards. Give a look here: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/58D3-B80D-2943-3CC6

I travel very often, and resided in different countries and never ever had any issues to access my library or buy games when traveling. However I use ONLY the payment of the country I'm currently living, and change only when I'm settled in the other one. If you are staying for a short period, as in for a trip, do not change it.

I'm aware of the fact that the region would be locked for 3 months however I'm okay with that. even if I stay in the country for two months and then return and then when I'm back I revert to my native country id be willing to do that. While I'm not going to Turkey for the sole reason of getting cheaper games, I would be interested in buying some while I'm there therefore as I own a Turkish card I would use that due to the fact it would be cheaper and I'm actually in the country. I just don't want to accidentally face any account bans due to me using a different card and being in a different country to then return to my normal country a month later.

Do you have any experiences with changing the region or using a card native to the country you're visiting or no?
As i explained, due to me having a turkish card it would change the region however I dont want to face account restrictions if I then return to my normal country and they get confused why ive got a turkish account while being somewhere else

Changing your country region is not hard. Click on the tab right on top-right of the steam window (the one which shows your avatar and name), and click on "Store Preferences".
Then, go to "Account Details" tab and click in "Update Store Country".
It swill switch your account store, and if you want to buy something you have to provide a new payment method., which can be for instance, your card.

Notice that it says right on top "If you MOVED to a different country you may able to update your Steam Wallet and how you view the Steam Store". You are supposed to update the country only if you move to it and become a resident, not for non-permanent travels . Note that what you add to the wallet in that country will be locked for purchases on that country too. For instance, if you wallet is in USD, and you change to a EU country, the dollars will be not usable in the EU shop. The same will apply if you use a card to add this to your wallet. Keep this in mind.

As I said, no I never had any kind of issues and restrictions applied on me, besides the usual ones (for instance in Germany, some games are not available there... specially those 18+ adult ones) . And it never blocked me to play games that are not available there either, that I bought when I was living somewhere else (for instance, uncensored Left4Dead, Unreal Tournament, etc). But there's an important detail: I used for payment only credit cards, which require you to have a bank account in the country, and proof of residence. I must say that I travelled to very far away countries and neighbouring ones, and Steam never "got confused". What it does is log you off automatically (if you were logged-in in your laptop, for instance) and trigger all safe-guards (Steam Guard, etc), in order to make sure it's you who is accessing your account from another country.

Also, please check if Turkey dont have regional restrictions, because if so, as I mentioned before, the game can be locked to be played only there until a period of 90 days pass. As far I know, this is done exactly to prevent people buying games in cheap regions and then travelling back. I'm pretty sure it would happen to me if I decided to buy games in Poland, which are in Polish Zloty... and I can just drive there in a couple of hours, if I wanted to.

My opinion still is: don't do that unless you are really moving to Turkey.

[happy]

Store Regions are based on where you live not where youre going to Vacation on. If you change your Region for that its not allowed and can potentially have Consequences for you, especially now that you broadcasted your Intentions to the Internet.

[goofy ♡]

Originally posted by Saracchini (on Fire!):

Originally posted by goofy goober᠌ ⁧⁧♡:

I'm aware of the fact that the region would be locked for 3 months however I'm okay with that. even if I stay in the country for two months and then return and then when I'm back I revert to my native country id be willing to do that. While I'm not going to Turkey for the sole reason of getting cheaper games, I would be interested in buying some while I'm there therefore as I own a Turkish card I would use that due to the fact it would be cheaper and I'm actually in the country. I just don't want to accidentally face any account bans due to me using a different card and being in a different country to then return to my normal country a month later.

Do you have any experiences with changing the region or using a card native to the country you're visiting or no?
As i explained, due to me having a turkish card it would change the region however I dont want to face account restrictions if I then return to my normal country and they get confused why ive got a turkish account while being somewhere else

Changing your country region is not hard. Click on the tab right on top-right of the steam window (the one which shows your avatar and name), and click on "Store Preferences".
Then, go to "Account Details" tab and click in "Update Store Country".
It swill switch your account store, and if you want to buy something you have to provide a new payment method., which can be for instance, your card.

Notice that it says right on top "If you MOVED to a different country you may able to update your Steam Wallet and how you view the Steam Store". You are supposed to update the country only if you move to it and become a resident, not for non-permanent travels . Note that what you add to the wallet in that country will be locked for purchases on that country too. For instance, if you wallet is in USD, and you change to a EU country, the dollars will be not usable in the EU shop. The same will apply if you use a card to add this to your wallet. Keep this in mind.

As I said, no I never had any kind of issues and restrictions applied on me, besides the usual ones (for instance in Germany, some games are not available there... specially those 18+ adult ones) . And it never blocked me to play games that are not available there either, that I bought when I was living somewhere else (for instance, uncensored Left4Dead, Unreal Tournament, etc). But there's an important detail: I used for payment only credit cards, which require you to have a bank account in the country, and proof of residence. I must say that I travelled to very far away countries and neighbouring ones, and Steam never "got confused". What it does is log you off automatically (if you were logged-in in your laptop, for instance) and trigger all safe-guards (Steam Guard, etc), in order to make sure it's you who is accessing your account from another country.

Also, please check if Turkey dont have regional restrictions, because if so, as I mentioned before, the game can be locked to be played only there until a period of 90 days pass. As far I know, this is done exactly to prevent people buying games in cheap regions and then travelling back. I'm pretty sure it would happen to me if I decided to buy games in Poland, which are in Polish Zloty... and I can just drive there in a couple of hours, if I wanted to.

My opinion still is: don't do that unless you are really moving to Turkey.

If I’m not mistaken, when you try to buy a game or anything on the steam store and the billing address is from a different it will try and make you change your account region right?

As I own a Turkish card, when I enter the details and the billing address it would try to make me switch my region to turkey. That’s where I get anxious because I don’t want consequences.
My account being Turkish for 3 months isn’t an issue. I just don’t want my account locked over this