CD key for an older game question.

[Fall Damage]

I have a physical copy of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl that I found while digging through my things recently. I bought the game back around 2007-2008.

I tried adding it through Steam via "Activate a Product on Steam..." option but I'm not sure if Steam accepts older CD keys.

Is there a way I can have my game officially added to my Steam library or am I having to "double dip" and purchase a 2nd copy?

[J4MESOX4D]

Steam will accept older keys as long as they have not been redeemed on another account.

[✨Saint✨]

Originally posted by Fall Damage:

I have a physical copy of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl that I found while digging through my things recently. I bought the game back around 2007-2008.

I tried adding it through Steam via "Activate a Product on Steam..." option but I'm not sure if Steam accepts older CD keys.

Is there a way I can have my game officially added to my Steam library or am I having to "double dip" and purchase a 2nd copy?

Not sure if you really tried, but Steam accepts older keys as well, just try.
If it does not work, and you want the game on Steam, you will have to buy a new copy.

[Fall Damage]

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:

Steam will accept older keys as long as they have not been redeemed on another account.

Originally posted by ✨Saint✨:

Originally posted by Fall Damage:

I have a physical copy of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl that I found while digging through my things recently. I bought the game back around 2007-2008.

I tried adding it through Steam via "Activate a Product on Steam..." option but I'm not sure if Steam accepts older CD keys.

Is there a way I can have my game officially added to my Steam library or am I having to "double dip" and purchase a 2nd copy?

Not sure if you really tried, but Steam accepts older keys as well, just try.
If it does not work, and you want the game on Steam, you will have to buy a new copy.

:saint:

I've been getting an "Invalid Product Code" error when I try to put in the key. Is it because it's a 16-digit CD key that I'm having this issue?

[✨Saint✨]

Originally posted by Fall Damage:

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:

Steam will accept older keys as long as they have not been redeemed on another account.

Originally posted by ✨Saint✨:

Not sure if you really tried, but Steam accepts older keys as well, just try.
If it does not work, and you want the game on Steam, you will have to buy a new copy.

I've been getting an "Invalid Product Code" error when I try to put in the key. Is it because it's a 16-digit CD key that I'm having this issue?

There a 3 formats for product codes, the system will tell you the format you need when adding a game.
If the code does not work, you will have to buy a new copy.

[J4MESOX4D]

Originally posted by Fall Damage:

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:

Steam will accept older keys as long as they have not been redeemed on another account.

Originally posted by ✨Saint✨:

Not sure if you really tried, but Steam accepts older keys as well, just try.
If it does not work, and you want the game on Steam, you will have to buy a new copy.

:saint:

I've been getting an "Invalid Product Code" error when I try to put in the key. Is it because it's a 16-digit CD key that I'm having this issue?

Are you sure it's a Steam key and not some other serial? These games (the Stalker collection) usually go for a few bucks in the sale on Steam elsewhere so if you had your heart set on this game then if the worst comes to the worst, shop around and get it and the rest dirt cheap.

[Crazy Tiger]

Having a CD key doesn't mean it's also a Steam key. And just because a game is on Steam, doesn't mean that the physical version also was redeemable on Steam. So if you get "invalid code", it means it's not a key redeemable on Steam.

[Kargor]

Also, PCGamingWiki often has information on how a game was sold.

Still, if you enter the key and it says "invalid code", then the key isn't in the Steam database so it's not a Steam-redeemable key. There really isn't a lot of useful research since you already know the end result anyway.

[The Last Unicorn]

I wonder, since its an old game and computers are more powerful now than they were back when the encryption was made, is it possible someone came up with an idea of generating CD-Keys for old physical copies and then sell them as steam product key on a key reseller site ?

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Steam keys don't expires, they can only be used once, and are permanently tied to an account, please note there are no redo, or undo. Here are things you need to know.

- Be aware of Letters & Numbers, example 1 for L, 5 for S, O for 0, and so on.

- The keys has to be for Steam in order to work, otherwise it's not a Steam key, as just gives you error for invalid.