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CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:26am
buying region locked game while traveling
Hi guys. I'll be traveling to India end of this month, can I buy games there and play it when I come back? Thanks for the help guys. The game I'll be buying is Nier. It's supposed to come to Malaysia this month. And the game's probably gonna be way cheaper in India store.
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Showing 1-15 of 19 comments
Cinnamon Sky Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:32am 
If is region locked no. U can´t play it when u come back. In that case I´ll buy russian games and cheaper regions. So. No, u can´t unless on india is row.
#1
CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:39am 
Originally posted by Starberry:
If is region locked no. U can´t play it when u come back. In that case I´ll buy russian games and cheaper regions. So. No, u can´t unless on india is row.

But in Nier's discussion, there are many from SEA who bought it from local resellers selling the game from India. What if I activated the game there? Is there a way for me to check whether the game's activation locked? Can I try buying the game there and ask a friend back home to login my account to check?
#2
Cinnamon Sky Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:41am 
U can buy it and then If doesn´t work. U can ask a refund.
#3
CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:41am 
And since you said if the game is region locked, meaning some games that I owned now can't be played in other countries if I were to stay there? There are some games I own that says it can only be activated in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore etc etc.
#4
Ogami Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:48am 
You can activate the game and play it while you are in that region. It will no longer work when you come back home.
BUT, all games that are in your library become regionfree 90 days after their activation.
Meaning, as long as you activated the game while in the correct region you can download and play it anywhere, 90 days after activation.
Last edited by Ogami; Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:48am
#5
Cinnamon Sky Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:52am 
No, Nier still region lock on SEA maybe this month could be released as they said. But the india store will be able only on india to play. Because the price is local.
#6
CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:52am 
Originally posted by Ogami:
You can activate the game and play it while you are in that region. It will no longer work when you come back home.
BUT, all games that are in your library become regionfree 90 days after their activation.
Meaning, as long as you activated the game while in the correct region you can download and play it anywhere, 90 days after activation.

Alright, meaning if I buy AND activate Nier at India, I can come back home at Malaysia and play it after 90 days? I'll do that then since my current graphic card can't support the game anyway, will be upgrading it by September.
#7
Cinnamon Sky Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:54am 
https://steamcommunity.com/app/524220/discussions/0/135511027323548884/ check the india comment on the discussion.
#8
Ogami Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:54am 
Originally posted by CAPTAIN CHUA:
Originally posted by Ogami:
You can activate the game and play it while you are in that region. It will no longer work when you come back home.
BUT, all games that are in your library become regionfree 90 days after their activation.
Meaning, as long as you activated the game while in the correct region you can download and play it anywhere, 90 days after activation.

Alright, meaning if I buy AND activate Nier at India, I can come back home at Malaysia and play it after 90 days? I'll do that then since my current graphic card can't support the game anyway, will be upgrading it by September.


That is correct. I do that often since i regulary visit friends in Russia. Always buy some cheap games there. They dont work anymore when i am back in Germany but after 90 days they install and play like every other game in my library.
#9
Cinnamon Sky Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:57am 
Originally posted by Ogami:
Originally posted by CAPTAIN CHUA:

Alright, meaning if I buy AND activate Nier at India, I can come back home at Malaysia and play it after 90 days? I'll do that then since my current graphic card can't support the game anyway, will be upgrading it by September.


That is correct. I do that often since i regulary visit friends in Russia. Always buy some cheap games there. They dont work anymore when i am back in Germany but after 90 days they install and play like every other game in my library.
Mkay I didn´t knew this. But isn´t the same as receive a gift copy from that region I suppose cuz I need activate it first I guess.
#10
Ogami Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:59am 
Yeah, it only works if you are in that region when you activate the game. If you receive a gift from that region you are still not IN that region when trying to activate so it does not work.
Steam checks your location IP for that.
#11
CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 1:07am 
Originally posted by Ogami:
Yeah, it only works if you are in that region when you activate the game. If you receive a gift from that region you are still not IN that region when trying to activate so it does not work.
Steam checks your location IP for that.

By activating do you mean install and run the first time installation etc? Coz I don't think I'll be bringing laptop there. It's only a 2.5 days trip. And will there be a notification after 90 days?
#12
Ogami Apr 14, 2017 @ 1:11am 
Originally posted by CAPTAIN CHUA:
Originally posted by Ogami:
Yeah, it only works if you are in that region when you activate the game. If you receive a gift from that region you are still not IN that region when trying to activate so it does not work.
Steam checks your location IP for that.

By activating do you mean install and run the first time installation etc? Coz I don't think I'll be bringing laptop there. It's only a 2.5 days trip. And will there be a notification after 90 days?

No you only need to activate the game while you are in India. So if you enter the serial key and the game has been added to your library that is enough.
You need to be able to login into your account on a pc for that.
It just needs to be in your library for the 90 days countdown to start.
And no, there will be no notification of any kind. After 90 days it will just work.
Its a feature that Steam does not really advertise. Its mainly meant for users that move to different countries so that they dont lose half their library in that case.
Last edited by Ogami; Apr 14, 2017 @ 1:13am
#13
CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 1:16am 
Originally posted by Ogami:
Originally posted by CAPTAIN CHUA:

By activating do you mean install and run the first time installation etc? Coz I don't think I'll be bringing laptop there. It's only a 2.5 days trip. And will there be a notification after 90 days?

No you only need to activate the game while you are in India. So if you enter the serial key and the game has been added to your library that is enough.
You need to be able to login into your account on a pc for that.
It just needs to be in your library for the 90 days countdown to start.
And no, there will be no notification of any kind. After 90 days it will just work.
Its a feature that Steam does not really advertise. Its mainly meant for users that move to different countries so that they dont lose half their library in that case.

Okay, thank you sir for the reassurance!
#14
CAPTAIN CHUA Apr 14, 2017 @ 1:20am 
Just realised there's this thing. Hopefully there won't be a play restriction. http://i.imgur.com/S6ppkGU.jpg
#15
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Date Posted: Apr 14, 2017 @ 12:26am
Posts: 19
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