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Is it safe to buy Russian Steam Keys?
- Thread starter WarpathDC
- Start date
TheContact
Member
It's not safe or legal
super-famicom
Member
If you have to ask, maybe not.
No, they install communism on your PC instead of games and then will pretend they didn't actually capture your hard drive and that it was that other malicious program from Adobe.
On a more serious note, first you should check if the game you're buying isn't region locked to RU/CIS because that's what a lot of publishers do in our region and then double check the source you're buying the key from (beware of scammers). Otherwise they seem to work pretty fine.
On a more serious note, first you should check if the game you're buying isn't region locked to RU/CIS because that's what a lot of publishers do in our region and then double check the source you're buying the key from (beware of scammers). Otherwise they seem to work pretty fine.
You're best off checking back with SteamGAF on such matters before you purchase. Games could be region-locked, geo-locked, just be available in Russian etc. pp. There is no general answer to your question.
I highly recommend dealing with high-reputation traders (there are quite a few around here on GAF who sell at good price and are obviously trusted; check out the B/S/T thread to find some) instead of resellers such as Kinguin etc.
I highly recommend dealing with high-reputation traders (there are quite a few around here on GAF who sell at good price and are obviously trusted; check out the B/S/T thread to find some) instead of resellers such as Kinguin etc.
CambriaRising
Member
I have bought many keys and gifts from RussiaGaf in the B/S/T thread and never had a single issue.
SteamGAF has all the answers.
You need to be wary of region-locking measures. Here's a post I did on the matter a couple of weeks ago:
With CD keys in particular, publishers can also restrict activation to users in certain countries. While using a VPN to activate region-locked gift copies on Steam itself is ill-advised, to date there are no reputable reports of Valve being concerned with users who've used one to aid in key activations.
Read the OP. He's not talking about buying resold keys but rather buying gift copies of games through other GAF users.
With CD keys in particular, publishers can also restrict activation to users in certain countries. While using a VPN to activate region-locked gift copies on Steam itself is ill-advised, to date there are no reputable reports of Valve being concerned with users who've used one to aid in key activations.
Read the OP. He's not talking about buying resold keys but rather buying gift copies of games through other GAF users.
This. If you're exploiting region locks or circumventing region prices that is.
If you think saving a few bucks is worth being a piece of shit then by all means, be a piece of shit and hopefully get banned.
As for gifting... I actually have no idea.
Out of curiosity, how do you feel about people in say Europe or Japan having US PSN accounts to buy games that are cheaper there?
A lot of people do it on every platform.
I think calling someone a POS over being a smart consumer is pretty harsh bro.
crappybannedjunior999999
Banned
You don't buy Russian steam keys.
Russian steam keys buy YOU!
Russian steam keys buy YOU!
Do you even know what you're talking about? The OP wants to buy Steam gift items from Russians who trade them for TF2 keys.
It is both safe and legal. Don't be a jerk by calling people POS.
OP: Only thing to look out for is that some games are region locked. That's it.
Please explain your reasoning as to why someone is a "piece of shit" for doing something that is not illegal or immoral.
CambriaRising
Member
What is wrong with you?
Key resellers is a grey market area and therefore shady. Dealing with Steam inventory items is not.
It's safe if you know who to buy from.
Why is someone a piece of shit for saving money? You're actually getting the developers more sales, and if you recommend others do the same, you are spurring future sales.
If I buy Divinity Original Sin through a Russian, I don't have to wait for it to go on sale on the US Store. The developers get my money sooner, not later.
Why is someone a piece of shit for saving money? You're actually getting the developers more sales, and if you recommend others do the same, you are spurring future sales.
If I buy Divinity Original Sin through a Russian, I don't have to wait for it to go on sale on the US Store. The developers get my money sooner, not later.
Quadraphonic
Member
Это отличный. Пожалуйста, сделайте это!
Ваш друг,
Сергей
Ваш друг,
Сергей
-MD-
Member
Sums it up.
That depends. Did they buy their games in the appropriate country at the appropriate price or are they breaking the local law to get a discount?
Breaking the law to save a few dollars isn't smart. It's criminal. You might as well just pirate the game.
What are you talking about. Using keys out of region is neither safe nor legal and regardless of what currency you use to get it it's still a bannable offense to use them regardless of how you actually acquire them.
No I don't care to explain how circumventing region prices by installing out of region keys is not a good thing. If this isn't what you're doing then clearly I'm not talking about you.
I agree. There is nothing filthier than circumventing corporate policy. What would the world be without our benevolent corporate overlords controlling the world economy through monopolistic price-gouging? Free and fair, that's what! Absolutely disgusting.
ipukespiders
Member
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Portugeezer
Gold Member
I like this guy. Don't ban him pls.
I've been reading GAF for years and I don't see this at all. People were not allowed to discuss sites that sold stolen keys but that's not the same thing. These days, people trade TF2 keys for cheap games. As far as I can tell, discussing that practice on GAF is fine.
edit: Oh, you're talking about banning Steam accounts? Show me a case where Valve banned an account for using an out of region key. The worst I've seen is that they disable the key so you can't use it.
edit edit: I'd also love to see something stating that using these keys is illegal. Violating ToS is not the same thing as illegal.
I think you misunderstood what people mean when they say keys. They mean Tf2 and dota2 crate keys. They trade an amount of those to a Russian or otherwise who has it in his inventory. At this point, the game was already purchased, you are merely trading commodities
CurlySaysX
Banned
In Mother Russia, steam keys you.
Nabs
Member
When we talk about Russian keys in SteamGAF, we're talking about TF2 keys that we trade for cheaper Steam gifts from Russian sellers. Most of us skip the sketchy grey market sites like cheap2gift5team1 and steam4u or some shit. I just made those sites up, please don't visit them.
I recommend asking SteamGAF before you buy anything, some games are region locked and someone like JaseC will set you straight.
I recommend asking SteamGAF before you buy anything, some games are region locked and someone like JaseC will set you straight.
Actually burst out laughing at the sight of the word "criminal".
And then again:
1) Breaking what federal laws and in what countries
2) Implying that playing outside your regions in MMO's is illegal
3) Stating that buying games that are unavailable in your region (and that in some cases might never be) — also illegal
The most unbelievable thing I've read in a day and I'm reading a fantasy book at the moment. Simply Amazing
I think you have something confused here. Using VPN to get around region locks is bannable.
We're talking about region free games that can be bought cheaper elsewhere and can be safely and legally activated in another region. It's fine if you don't believe me, but don't spread misinformation.
Kiru
Member
THUG LIFE
Can you show me a Steam user getting a ban because they used a VPN to play an otherwise region-locked game?
DunderHassan
Member
Just wanted to put this in here, to make everything clear:
Steam Subscriber Agreement
You're not allowed to use VPN/Proxy to activate region locked Steam games, but you're free to activate unlocked copies, regardless of where they come from.
Steam Subscriber Agreement
You're not allowed to use VPN/Proxy to activate region locked Steam games, but you're free to activate unlocked copies, regardless of where they come from.
Arcanine55
Neo Member
I have trade games for Dota2 keys or cosmetics some times and I didn't have a problem, but I think that is just a matter of time that the games that you can trade in Steam will be more region locked.
In any case, if the game is stolen and you get it by a trade without knowing it (Remember, always only with th2/dota2 keys or cosmetics, never real money), Valve will eliminate the game in your library, but It will give you the items that you give to the trader, at least It happened to a friend of mine when the natural selection stuff. Sorry for not having source over this.
In any case, if the game is stolen and you get it by a trade without knowing it (Remember, always only with th2/dota2 keys or cosmetics, never real money), Valve will eliminate the game in your library, but It will give you the items that you give to the trader, at least It happened to a friend of mine when the natural selection stuff. Sorry for not having source over this.
Cheshire_Buddha
Member
I traded some TF2 keys to a Russian for South Park. Deal worked out just fine.
I'll just reiterate that, historically, Valve has turned a blind eye to VPN usage as far as key activations are concerned. Understandably, though, some prefer to err on the side of caution given that using a VPN at all is technically prohibited.