Moving to Russia for a while - yet i want to play games.

[Kamsio]

Hello, im going to travel to Russia for few weeks. I was wondering if i'll be able to buy games from Russian stationary shops and activate them directly on my account and then still use them when i come back to my country? Is it possible and legal? Have a nice day everyone

[Seven7]

ROW games not restricted in RU\CIS region - RU\CIS games restricted in ROW region

https://www.1c-interes.ru/ some games restricted to activate or run outside + may be with ru\en localization only

[Kamsio]

So while picking up a game i should check if its region locked to RU\CIS or just a ROW right?

[Darren]

Just buy from Steam directly. Set your store region to your home country. You will pay the normal price and get your game unrestricted.

[Kamsio]

Well im not a big fan of buying games directly from steam(without the sales ofc) since im from Poland and the prices are way over the value i can get them from a stationary shops. :(

[Brujeira]

OK, how about a low-tech solution to a hi-tech problem? Get a friend or family member to buy you the game in Poland, get them to text/email the CD key to you while you're in Russia and then pay them for the games when you get back.

[Seven7]

Games, buyed in RU\CIS restricted for activation or for activation & run outside (not all, but some) and some games restricted for use only ru services & servers & ru interface.
and hints how bypass SSA - fast way to ban on forum, community and Steam services

[Ogami]

You can buy and activate games while in russia but they will no longer play when you return home.
BUT, after 90 days any game that is in your library becomes regionfree. So, those Russian games will be playable again 90 days after adding them to your library, regardless where you are.

[Kamsio]

@Brujeira - that sounds good but i dont feel like anyone will be pleased much if i ask them to buy me games

@Seven7 then i shall check twice if the game is available worldwide. I do not want to cheat or try to bypass buying restricted games - thats not my point. Thanks for advice.

[Kamsio]

@Ogami will i have to change my living place / address on steam or is it okay to leave it as it is? I do not want to get banned tho so i might just get stacked up with games before i leave not to risk anything :D

[BossGalaga]

Originally posted by Dead Inside:

@Ogami will i have to change my living place / address on steam or is it okay to leave it as it is? I do not want to get banned tho so i might just get stacked up with games before i leave not to risk anything :D

If you activate Russian Steam keys regardless of where you claim to purchase them or if you claim to be vacationing in Russia, they will still be restricted to Russia. Changing your account settings, using proxies or VPNs or any other means to bypass region restrictions on games can result in your account being restricted or locked.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1266-QFZC-2141

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Dead Inside:

@Ogami will i have to change my living place / address on steam or is it okay to leave it as it is? I do not want to get banned tho so i might just get stacked up with games before i leave not to risk anything :D

You can leave it as it is. The games will activate and be playable while you are in Russia since you have a russian IP. When you return they will still be in your library but no longer install/play.
You will get a " wrong region" error message. But exactly 90 days after you added the game/s they will install again and can be started.
Tested this myself dozens of times since i often visit friends in Russia and always buy some cheap retail games when i am there.
Up until now every single game became region free after being 90 days in my library.

[Kamsio]

Great, really thanks for a tip Ogami. Much love to you <3