Using Steam while visiting China?

[NimrodX]

So I'm going to be visiting China at some point. I'm going to bring my laptop and maybe my steam deck.

But I'm wondering if anyone knows what's blocked by "the great firewall of china" and if I'm going to be unable to reach the licensing servers, unable to update games, etc, or if just the forums/store will be restricted or something.

I guess I'll download everything I want to play and launch it to make sure the licenses get validated at least once before leaving, but any tips on this would be helpful. It would be sad if my chinese-developed kung fu games and stuff won't work..... IN CHINA

[HikariLight]

If your visiting, you don't need to change anything.
The only time you need to change your store region is if it is a permanent move.

[Wayward]

Originally posted by HikariLight:

If your visiting, you don't need to change anything.
The only time you need to change your store region is if it is a permanent move.

That's not really what the OP asked. Do you actually read the threads you reply to?

Anyway, OP, to answer you - as far as I am aware, Steam should still work. You'll probably have trouble accessing community or workshop pages but otherwise it functions in China as far as I know. You'll definitely be able to access your games, however. Although I recommend downloading them first if you can because your connection will probably be throttled as well and you may have slow download speeds.

[NimrodX]

Ok, thanks. I’m not really worried about forums being blocked and stuff like that, just don’t want the licensing servers or updates blocked. Worst case is I use eSIM data which isn’t supposed to be behind the “great firewall” but sounds like I should be ok. (We’re going to end up with 3-4 different possible internet connection methods since we still need to make sure we can access work stuff.)

[Ogami]

Will still work, the international Steam client is only blocked for Chinese native citizens who need to use the authorized Chinese Steam client.
That rule does not apply to foreigners in China. (yet)

[HikariLight]

Originally posted by Wayward:

Originally posted by HikariLight:

If your visiting, you don't need to change anything.
The only time you need to change your store region is if it is a permanent move.

That's not really what the OP asked. Do you actually read the threads you reply to?

Anyway, OP, to answer you - as far as I am aware, Steam should still work. You'll probably have trouble accessing community or workshop pages but otherwise it functions in China as far as I know. You'll definitely be able to access your games, however. Although I recommend downloading them first if you can because your connection will probably be throttled as well and you may have slow download speeds.

Read what OP said.
He said "I'm going to be VISITING".
If it is a temporary stay you do not need to change your store region, thus you can still access everything.
If the OP was permanently moving to China then they would need to change to the Chinese version.
But since it is a temporary visit, then they don't need to do anything.

[NimrodX]

And I’m not trying to buy things in the Chinese steam store at Chinese prices so…. Anyway, yea, not buying more games. Just need them to be updatable and playable.