Steam should keep itself as region free platform.

[Djeeta]

A lot of problem have been made regards to region lock DLC from a publisher, like Bandai Namco.
- Tales of zestiria and berseria have their mascot costume region exclusive(cosmetic DLC), even the game selling word wide.
- One Piece World Seeker : Hot spring(stage DLC) banned only on Steam. Consoles have it.
- Code Vein : Bandai namco Front-website exclusive with limit amount of Goldmask(cosmetic DLC) that applies only on Steam, because Consoles got guaranteed download without using Front-website promotion services.
, few stickers, and more another cosmetic items that is not in Dengeki magazine exclusive.
And many more

A lot of game have been selling on steam, world wide.
Steam itself even have a sexual games and a lot of contents with nudity, so i think this is not a problem anymore when the game stated it is Pegi 16+ or higher.

Steam usually sell the game world wide with full content, or the game will not be on store at all.
For example SRW V which have LC problem and not on sell on NA/EU region store. (Also from Bandai Namco)

Its truth, the exclusivity usually are the normal case, but when it is selling world wide, you usually have another means to access to said exclusivity.
For example You can still obtains some of exclusive cosmetic items in SAO : Fatal Bullet game by buying with Steam.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey cannot be claim by some region of steam store, but you can buy it directly on Uplay.
MHW Iceborne delay time are too long on Steam, but we will eventually get to play it.
borderlands 3 time exclusive, but we will eventually get to play it.

The problem with this is, some games are selling world wide, but theirs DLC become region locked, Front-website promotion, while means
- the publisher lacking any advertisement about informations, what you will get and not get.
- the cost of the game are exactly the same or even more(if we convert currency), but some regions are missing contents.

What i seek, is an answer about how Steam works.
1) Is some publisher allow to selling their games world wide and withdraw some contents from Steam and thus then its totally OK for those said publisher to do so.
2) The game that missing contents are allows to sell on Steam store, and keep the same cost as full contents game, while its actually not.
3) And the publisher doesnt obliged to tell the buyer what they are missing, and not respond for any missing information.

Because i dont know where Steam position right now.
Steam selling games world wide, but with region exclusive?
How does that different from any other platforms.

If you answer, " there is no different about Steam and other platforms, it just a platform "
Then its as Steam admitted that region lock is a thing, for a world wide platform.
Since PS, Xbox, Nintendo separate their regions, while Steam didnt do it openly.

PS. Do not bring up Bath Towel here, i said "Another cosmetic items that is not in Dengeki magazine exclusive" and i am talking about Steam store itself.

[Gwarsbane]

They can't keep them selves as "region free", they have to follow laws just like any other company, and if the laws say a certain DLC or game can't be sold in a certain location then they can't sell that DLC or game in that location.

And if the game developers do not want to sell a DLC or game in a certain region but sell it everywhere else they are legally allowed to do so and Valve can not and will not force them to sell it in the locations the devs don't want to.


Also I have not seen one DLC thats been region locked in an region that the actual game is selling in.


There are games that are on both PC and console that keep certain DLC for just the PC or just the console, but thats 100% upto the developer of the game. Personally I think its dumb to do that, but this is not what region locking is. Thats called PC or Console Exclusive content. Sometimes they do that to get more sales for either the PC or the Console.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

The items you specified have nothing to do with Valve.

Every part of that was the decision of the game dev/pub.

[Djeeta]

Gwarsbane の投稿を引用：

They can't keep them selves as "region free", they have to follow laws just like any other company, and if the laws say a certain DLC or game can't be sold in a certain location then they can't sell that DLC or game in that location.

And if the game developers do not want to sell a DLC or game in a certain region but sell it everywhere else they are legally allowed to do so and Valve can not and will not force them to sell it in the locations the devs don't want to.

Let me ask something, that might be missing here.

- the publisher lacking any advertisement about informations, what you will get and not get.
Does this mean it is legally for publisher, to publish a game from Steam store, but customer does not need to know what contents the game contain.
For example, At another platform we have like PS+ news to keep us up to date, what contents you will get, from Sony.
But with Steam most of the update informations came from Publisher themselves.

- The game itself have it own rating already(Pegi Age)
Is this not apply/enough for a countries laws?

[Djeeta]

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

The items you specified have nothing to do with Valve.

Every part of that was the decision of the game dev/pub.

:qr:

The only problem for me is the information was withhold, from publisher themselves.
And, for example the Gold Mask case, the item which suppose to be pre-order item became front-store item, that is still fine.
But also the limit on the items information was withhold, and only applies to Steam.
Since all Consoles pre-order get this.

Can this be claim on Steam as deflect product/missing content? In theory it is.
But i dont know how Steam function with this.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

It was their decision to exclude items not only for PC but also for only certain regions.

Take it up with them. Usually, the info is on their official websites and/or forums.

Mumei の投稿を引用：

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

The items you specified have nothing to do with Valve.

Every part of that was the decision of the game dev/pub.

The only problem for me is the information was withhold, from publisher themselves.
Can this be claim on Steam as deflect product/missing content? In theory it is.
But i dont know how Steam function with this.

Can you prove that? Because the publisher works hand in hand with the game devs and this should be asked directly to them and not here.

Valve has no say over what they want to restrict in their game for which regions or PC version from consoles.

[Djeeta]

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

Can you prove that? Because they work hand in hand with the game devs and this should be asked directly to them and not here.

Valve has no say over what they want to restrict in their game for which regions or PC version from consoles.

:qr:

Yes, the prove is already in the Steam forum/Reddit, before the game Code Vein launch.
There is only official information from Publisher, which is in japanese only.
(im talking about missing contents here, not the DLC that announced on Steam Store already)

Its contain information about what DLC exits in the game, but not fully explain how to get some of them.
This Gold Mask which is cosmetic item from Code Vein game is a good example.
On Consoles platform, it is download automatically if you pre-order the game before launch date.
So you are guarantee to get it without extra steps.

But when it came to Steam, the information about this item was only shows at Bandai website, but none to be found on Steam.
The problem is, it became limit by numbers, and this information was withhold and no ones know about it until they got item code e-mail, which was a week or less before Code Vein launch.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Mumei の投稿を引用：

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

Can you prove that? Because they work hand in hand with the game devs and this should be asked directly to them and not here.

Valve has no say over what they want to restrict in their game for which regions or PC version from consoles.

Yes, the prove is already in the Steam forum, before the game Code Vein launch.
There is only official information from Publisher, which is in japanese only.

Its contain information about what DLC exits in the game, but not fully explain how to get some of them.
This Gold Mask which is cosmetic item from Code Vein game is a good example.
On Consoles platform, it is download automatically if you pre-order the game before launch date.
So you are guarantee to get it without extra steps.

But when it came to Steam, the information about this item was only shows at Bandai website, but none to be found on Steam.
The problem is, it became limit by numbers, and this information was withhold and no ones know about it until they got item code e-mail, which was a week or less before Code Vein launch.

So, still not a Valve issue. It is an issue between customers and the game devs/pubs.

[Djeeta]

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

So, still not a Valve issue. It is an issue between customers and the game devs/pubs.

:qr:

So, this missing information, even the game is on Steam is not Steam issue?
I kind of dont understand this how it works, thats why i want to know Steam standing point.

Its like saying Steam didnt do control-check the game with the Publisher before it publish world wide.
Or am i misunderstand things here?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Mumei の投稿を引用：

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

So, still not a Valve issue. It is an issue between customers and the game devs/pubs.

So, this missing information, even the game is on Steam is not Steam issue?
I kind of dont understand this how it works, thats why i want to know Steam standing point.

Its like saying Steam didnt do control-check the game with the Publisher before it publish world wide.
Or am i misunderstand things here?

Publisher/developer issues outside the hands of Valve/Steam to correct, yes.

[Crazy Tiger]

Mumei の投稿を引用：

Its like saying Steam didnt do control-check the game with the Publisher before it publish world wide.
Or am i misunderstand things here?

Valve doesn't do a control check with the publishers on such things. Publishers decide how they offer/publish their games, not Valve.

[Djeeta]

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

Publisher/developer issues outside the hands of Valve/Steam to correct, yes.

:qr:

Alright, thanks for the correction.
Its probably conclude, because Publisher already answer that it will not be publish in NA/EU, with no legit explanation. (aside from inside region exclusive DLC)

I will just be mindful with unhonestly Publisher next time.
I hope Steam can have some accurate source information that users can actually relies on in the future.
As i know PS one is, even its not free.

[Djeeta]

Crazy Tiger の投稿を引用：

Valve doesn't do a control check with the publishers on such things. Publishers decide how they offer/publish their games, not Valve.

I see.
This is not about the topic but are Steam green light not the way Steam controlling which game will be on sell on the store?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Bandai Namco does that a lot. Nothing new here.

[Djeeta]

cSg|mc-Hotsauce の投稿を引用：

Bandai Namco does that a lot. Nothing new here.

:qr:

Yeah i know that, but i didnt expect it to be as bad as on Consoles.
Im tired of Bandai Namco exclusivity, thats why i raise a question here.

When at first time God Eater, Tekken, SAO games was publish on Steam, Steam dont have this kind of exclutivity on those said game.

But by time goes, its become just like Consoles.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

They are about as bad as Konami.