What if a game code doesn't work?

[KitticusCatticus]

I bought a game online, brand new and wrapped. side sticker and all, i open it up, take out the game code, type into steam and it doesn't work. I went letter by letter, triple checked it and even traded the "easily mistakable" letters for their look-a-likes which didn't work either.

I am planning on asking square enix but their support center is away until next week due to the holiday.
The game is "life is strange: before the storm" so it's definitely available, I'm not sure if either some sleuth got the code outta here and wrapped it up again or what.

bought on eBay but I'm an eBay seller myself and it didn't look re-wrapped to me, but I don't know what else I'm doing wrong. are not all games allowed to be redeemed maybe? TIA!

[MalikQayum]

could be that you aren't even given a steam key, but a square enix code that you need to redeem on their site or client.

perhaps check if that is the case, and that you were in fact given a steam key.

[MoonC A T]

Most likely, the game you purchased on eBay is the non-Steam version of the game that is offered through Square Enix.

If the box doesn't say Steam on it in the top left corner...it's not the Steam version.
https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/search/storm

If a code has already been redeemed, it will say so when you try to enter it.

If a code cannot be redeemed on Steam or is entered incorrectly you will get the invalid message.

[KitticusCatticus]

I see I see, I probably should've mentioned that it's meant for xbox one, but the way it was explained to me, if you own a game on one console, you can redeem it on steam to play there too, I thought it just had to be a game steam also carried. And no it doesn't say anything about steam on the cover, I'll see if square enix will let me redeem it somehow to play on my pc, because the boyfriend hogs the xbox so I play on here! Thanks for the advice, I believe I was wrong on how code redemption's work!

[Count_Dandyman]

Originally posted by jroberts8826:

I see I see, I probably should've mentioned that it's meant for xbox one, but the way it was explained to me, if you own a game on one console, you can redeem it on steam to play there too, I thought it just had to be a game steam also carried. And no it doesn't say anything about steam on the cover, I'll see if square enix will let me redeem it somehow to play on my pc, because the boyfriend hogs the xbox so I play on here! Thanks for the advice, I believe I was wrong on how code redemption's work!

Yeah whoever explained it to you was talking out their ass because it doesn't work that way at all there are some games where your account and progress can be linked across platforms but not ones where you buy it on one and get it free on others unless they flat out say you do.

[Cathulhu]

Not sure what stuff that person was on, but that was wrong in every single possible way.
I doubt Square Enix will gift you a free copy for the PC because you made a mistake when buying the wrong version.

[Bee🐝]

Hopefully, refund the Xbox version and then buy the Steam version. Most likely since you used that copy you’re not going to be able refund it.

Option 2, is to trade it to a TRUSTWORTHY owner of an a Xbox for an Steam copy.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by jroberts8826:

I see I see, I probably should've mentioned that it's meant for xbox one, but the way it was explained to me, if you own a game on one console, you can redeem it on steam to play there too, I thought it just had to be a game steam also carried. And no it doesn't say anything about steam on the cover, I'll see if square enix will let me redeem it somehow to play on my pc, because the boyfriend hogs the xbox so I play on here! Thanks for the advice, I believe I was wrong on how code redemption's work!

Uh no

The only time that works is if a games has Xbox Play Anywhere. where by if you own a copy on xbox it will be playable on windows but only if you use windows 10 through the windows store

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/life-is-strange-before-the-storm-complete-season/BRB2J2GKCC3H

Live is strange before the store is not Xbox Play Anywhere and thus is not playable on PC with an xbox license

However compare this to Forza 4

https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/forza-horizon-4-standard-edition/9pnjxvcvwd4k?rtc=1

Youll note this title has "xbox play anywhere" and thus an xbox license woudl allow you to play on windows 10 through the windows store (YOU CANNOT PLAY THROUGH STEAM THIS WAY)


Also I'm not sure what the code in the box for a retail disc copy of would be. The code might give you something on SE site but it wont give you a digital version of the game

[JPMcMillen]

Originally posted by Count_Dandyman:

Yeah whoever explained it to you was talking out their ass because it doesn't work that way at all there are some games where your account and progress can be linked across platforms but not ones where you buy it on one and get it free on others unless they flat out say you do.

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

Not sure what stuff that person was on, but that was wrong in every single possible way.
I doubt Square Enix will gift you a free copy for the PC because you made a mistake when buying the wrong version.

I believe there are some XBox games that do give you a PC copy, but it wouldn't be on Steam. I'd install and check the XBox app for Win10 and see if there's some way to do it there.

[Cathulhu]

There is XBox Play Anywhere, but that only applies to digital copies bought either through the XBox store, or the Windows store.

[Count_Dandyman]

Originally posted by JPMcMillen:

Originally posted by Count_Dandyman:

Yeah whoever explained it to you was talking out their ass because it doesn't work that way at all there are some games where your account and progress can be linked across platforms but not ones where you buy it on one and get it free on others unless they flat out say you do.

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

Not sure what stuff that person was on, but that was wrong in every single possible way.
I doubt Square Enix will gift you a free copy for the PC because you made a mistake when buying the wrong version.

I believe there are some XBox games that do give you a PC copy, but it wouldn't be on Steam. I'd install and check the XBox app for Win10 and see if there's some way to do it there.

There are some Xbox games that do it but they are all clearly labelled as doing it and can only be bought digitally on either the Xbox or Microsoft store.

[MoonC A T]

Originally posted by jroberts8826:

I see I see, I probably should've mentioned that it's meant for xbox one, but the way it was explained to me, if you own a game on one console, you can redeem it on steam to play there too, I thought it just had to be a game steam also carried.

As an eBay seller you are probably aware of the term SNAD (significantly not as described). If the seller stated in the auction description that you can activate it on Steam, you can file a claim regardless if they offer free returns or do not since a SNAD claim trumps a no return policy. If they don't offer returns and did not falsely describe the item, well then you're SOL.

From one eBay seller (since 2001) to another.

[KitticusCatticus]

Got it, ten times over. Thank you all.