Why are Steam games getting region locked in South East Asia.

[Cynical Cheese Cake]

As a foreigner staying in SEA, there has been a fairly worrying trend with Steam games in SEA. A lot of new games, mainly AAA games are getting region locked with no good reason given in SEA.At the moment, the following 4 games on the the Steam store, there is a note written under the screenshot gallery with the following text written:

Purchases made in Malaysia are only playable in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

The affected games are:
Hawken's Nemesis/Starter Pack:
Malaysia: http://store.steampowered.com/app/271332/?cc=my
Singapore: http://store.steampowered.com/app/271332/?cc=sg
Thailand: http://store.steampowered.com/app/271332/?cc=th
Philippines: http://store.steampowered.com/app/271332/?cc=ph

Region free copy from United States store: http://store.steampowered.com/app/271332/?cc=us

Thief]
Malaysia: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239160/?cc=my
Singapore: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239160/?cc=sg
Thailand: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239160/?cc=th
Philippines: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239160/?cc=ph

Region free copy from US: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239160/?cc=us

South Park A Stick of Truth
Malaysia: http://store.steampowered.com/app/213670/?cc=my
Singapore: http://store.steampowered.com/app/213670/?cc=sg
Thailand: http://store.steampowered.com/app/213670/?cc=th
Philippines: http://store.steampowered.com/app/213670/?cc=ph

Region Free Copy from US: http://store.steampowered.com/app/213670/?cc=us
Even Australia's censored version is cheaper than SEA by $5 and its not region locked: http://store.steampowered.com/app/213670/?cc=au

In SEA, only Singapore has censored South Park but other SEA countries are the same as the uncensored US version.

Source from GetGames: https://twitter.com/Get_Games/status/438607697114849280

Dark Souls Preorder
Malaysia: http://store.steampowered.com/app/236430/?cc=my
Singapore: http://store.steampowered.com/app/236430/?cc=sg
Thailand: http://store.steampowered.com/app/236430/?cc=th
Philippines: http://store.steampowered.com/app/236430/?cc=ph

Region Free Copy from US: http://store.steampowered.com/app/236430/?cc=us

At the moment, there is no known censorship on Dark Souls 2.

I believe that the number of games region locked to SEA will increase over time if one observe the trend as it first started out with Thief then expanded over to other games over time. Tomb Raider was region locked for SEA during one of the sales but people complained about it then it was removed.

I doubt this will have anything to do with censorship, as evidently, at the moment, it is only known that South Park is censored in Singapore while other SEA countries are unaffected. At the same time, other region locked games have no known censorship on these games. With exception to Singapore, there is no equivalent government bodies that examine game content in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines as if they do, I really doubt Dark Souls 2 or worse South Park will be released here without any cuts.I could say that it is highly probable South Park will be banned outright in these countries because they are much more conservative than a lot of countries in the west. Anal probing, Jews and Jesus Christ in a video game can be very offensive to some people here. If I am not wrong, the South Park cartoon is banned in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Also, I like to clarify that all 4 games in SEA countries are priced the same as the games prices in the US. It make no sense that US gamers are getting region free copies for $60, while we are getting region locked copies for the same $60 for a game like South Park. Also, people are getting much lower wages in most countries from SEA which make no sense at all. If South Park is sold in SEA for say, RM60 in Malaysia(equivalent to ~$20), then, the region lock on SEA games is perfectly fine.

We are living in a connected world where people travel around the world often, why does Steam suddenly started to resort to region lock is puzzling to me? Especially when the price isnt any cheaper than US retail price in countries where its people are making less money than an average American.

I would appreciate if Steam Support could clarify this.

[Falro the Great]

Publishers set region locks. Steam doesn't really have a say in it.

[Cynical Cheese Cake]

One of Hawken's developers/moderators said it isnt region locked by developers/publishers.

Originally posted by Akrium:

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

As far as I know, Hawken was not censored in any country in the world. This is not South Park.

And SEA gamers are paying the same as US gamers, what sort of fraud due to cross region trading could happen when the price is the same as US?

Still Hawken has zero control over what is and is not region locked. That is up to the countries in question and how they feel about steam, the various games on steam and how money is traded on steam.

So really it may have zero to do with Hawken itself. But steam in general.

Source: http://steamcommunity.com/app/271290/discussions/0/558749825069573218/?tscn=1394454332

If its up to publishers, then, I like to know why is it region locked when the price offered isnt any cheaper than retail price. Unlike Russia or South America who get cheaper games.

[Black Blade]

So there saying again its not up to Steam as well... its abut the contry it self that is blocking it

[Falro the Great]

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

One of Hawken's developers/moderators said it isnt region locked by developers/publishers.

Originally posted by Akrium:

Still Hawken has zero control over what is and is not region locked. That is up to the countries in question and how they feel about steam, the various games on steam and how money is traded on steam.

So really it may have zero to do with Hawken itself. But steam in general.

Source: http://steamcommunity.com/app/271290/discussions/0/558749825069573218/?tscn=1394454332

I see, but it still isn't up to Steam. In this case, you'll want to contact the national legislature.

[Cynical Cheese Cake]

Originally posted by Falro the Great:

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

One of Hawken's developers/moderators said it isnt region locked by developers/publishers.



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/app/271290/discussions/0/558749825069573218/?tscn=1394454332

I see, but it still isn't up to Steam. In this case, you'll want to contact the national legislature.

Most South East Asia countries have no government body in game censorship like ESRB or PEGI. Most retail games are imported in as grey imports while piracy is prevalent here.

If there are national legistration, South Park will not be sold in some countries as anal probing and Jews are offensive to a portion of the population here. On the other, Australian and Germans get censored copies but Malaysia, Indonesia and so on gets uncensored copy.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

Most South East Asia countries have no government body in game censorship like ESRB or PEGI. Most retail games are imported in as grey imports while piracy is prevalent here.

If there are national legistration, South Park will not be sold in some countries as anal probing and Jews are offensive to a portion of the population here. On the other, Australian and Germans get censored copies but Malaysia, Indonesia and so on gets uncensored copy.

As has been said, Steam/Valve does not choose what is and is not region locked. That is up to the developer/publisher and/or the local government.

It doesn't have to be about censorship. It could be due to many types of regulations. As you have also pointed out, there id a huge grey market and piracy in those areas. They may not be allowed due to the government wanting a cut of the sales, which is easier to do if sales are done locally.

There are many possibilities there. To find out, you may have to go ask each developer/publisher and/or government that is doing the region blocking. Valve is just complying with those requests.

[Bushido]

In this case, you'll want to contact the national legislature.

[Cynical Cheese Cake]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

Most South East Asia countries have no government body in game censorship like ESRB or PEGI. Most retail games are imported in as grey imports while piracy is prevalent here.

If there are national legistration, South Park will not be sold in some countries as anal probing and Jews are offensive to a portion of the population here. On the other, Australian and Germans get censored copies but Malaysia, Indonesia and so on gets uncensored copy.

As has been said, Steam/Valve does not choose what is and is not region locked. That is up to the developer/publisher and/or the local government.

It doesn't have to be about censorship. It could be due to many types of regulations. As you have also pointed out, there id a huge grey market and piracy in those areas. They may not be allowed due to the government wanting a cut of the sales, which is easier to do if sales are done locally.

There are many possibilities there. To find out, you may have to go ask each developer/publisher and/or government that is doing the region blocking. Valve is just complying with those requests.

At the same time, the last thing the publisher wants to be cause inconvenience to SEA gamers to force them to adopt piracy again as a lot of pirates started buying legit games due to Steam's excellent service. Region locking games without cheaper price tags does more damage than aids publishers.

Traditionally, Ubisoft and Meteor does not have any past region restriction on games in other region other than Russia and South America.

[Cynical Cheese Cake]

Originally posted by Wish Of The Devil:

In this case, you'll want to contact the national legislature.

As far as I know, there is no national legislation for games in most SEA countries, other than Singapore.

If there are, South Park will never be released in Malaysia or Indonesia uncut as the local government will definitely outright ban the game there. The South Park cartoon is banned here, so why is the game released uncut here?

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

At the same time, the last thing the publisher wants to be cause inconvenience to SEA gamers to force them to adopt piracy again as a lot of pirates started buying legit games due to Steam's excellent service. Region locking games without cheaper price tags does more damage than aids publishers.

Traditionally, Ubisoft and Meteor does not have any past region restriction on games in other region other than Russia and South America.

Again, you are barking up the wrong tree.

This is a decision made by each developer/publisher and/or government. Not Valve.

If you want an answer, those are tho ones you need to ask. If you want to debate it with them and try to get it unlocked, that is who you need to talk to.

Originally posted by LYN Cheesenium:

As far as I know, there is no national legislation for games in most SEA countries, other than Singapore.

There obviously is if the developer is saying wasn't their restriction. Even if it isn't specifically about games, there are trade laws and many other laws/legislation that can indirectly effect games.