[Pure Xbox] Xbox Players Say They're Being 'Banned Indefinitely' For Using A VPN [Update: Players were banned for exploiting regional pricing]

fafo-findout.gif
 
That sounds like these people will stop supporting Xbox and the total number of Xbox users will shrink as a result, it seems like ms is actively discrediting it's console userbase and want them to support their games elsewhere intentionally.
 
This. If companies can take advantage of a global economy then why can't a consumer?

You can do that but you risk getting banned if you want to 🤷‍♂️

I'm surprised no one I helped step by step with the turkey vpn game pass codes through the years on GAF has been banned lol.
 
IIRC, Sony doesn't mind this with regards to PSN unless you're trying to pull some scam.
There always needs to be a way for anyone anywhere to get the uncensored US version of any game.
 
Are these players just using it for MP or are they "using" it to abuse exchange rates on digital purchases?
They're abusing regional price. In certain countries certain games are super cheap. It happens on all digital marketplaces not just xbox. People also do this to abuse xbox live/psn reloads.

Say the new indy game is $20 in India. A user in usa would use a vpn and connect to a server in india.
Xbox store now thinks the user is actually in india and they can buy indy for $20.
Once purchased the user then turns off the vpn and plays it like normal. They just got a game that goes for $60 in the usa for $20.
 
Last edited:
Isn't this bearly standard practice among the core enthusiasts, like those who want to play games first and play the New Zealand version or whatever?

I don't buy games so no worries here. Unless they go years back, I think I bought some US game once that wasn't available in Euroland. Tried to buy US Ridge Racer 6 awhile back too but couldn't do it.
 
It's already happening, both Xbox and PS raised prices of regional content in Argentina, Turkey and some of the hotley exploited regions last year.




The getting was good while it lasted, I picked up BG3's deluxe edition for $20 in '23 when it launched on Xbox.

I've stopped using VPN for regional Game Pass codes for a while cause of Rewards, using it now is probably a much bigger ban risk than a few years ago.


This is why this scamming always shits me up the wall, you've got western people exploiting regional pricing for people who really need it to be that low to enjoy gaming at all.

And all it ends up with is the people missing out that are already struggling.
 
It's taken MS years to react to people using VPN's just so they can spend A LOT LESS money. With that said it's surely going to shrink the overall Game Pass numbers. Paying full price or close to full price for the Ultimate sub? I can imagine that quite a lot of people with VPN subs will say no.
 
Isn't this bearly standard practice among the core enthusiasts, like those who want to play games first and play the New Zealand version or whatever?

I don't buy games so no worries here. Unless they go years back, I think I bought some US game once that wasn't available in Euroland. Tried to buy US Ridge Racer 6 awhile back too but couldn't do it.
I don't think companies care if you use the store from a wealthy country.

Way back on the PS3 and 4 I had a US account to buy some JRPGs that were never released on Euro PSN. I used American gift cards to pay.
 
I'm ultra cheap when it comes to sniping digital games and even stooped so low I installed an app to get a deal on fast food.

But I'd never switch vpn regions over pricing. Everyone has a standard.
 
Something is not right with this arguments

I live in Brazil and have a Australian account, and bought stuff from it before and never have any message ir whatever. Never used a VPN or even got codes from random countries thou. But it's still weird
 
The things ppl do to not buy games at full price....






There's a joke about Game Pass in here somewhere.

IIRC, Sony doesn't mind this with regards to PSN unless you're trying to pull some scam.
There always needs to be a way for anyone anywhere to get the uncensored US version of any game.
Remember how Sony didnt give a fuck about where your PSN account was created? All that changed with the outcry about PSN accounts for Helldivers 2.

Fun times.
 
Remember how Sony didnt give a fuck about where your PSN account was created?

PSN accounts are region locked though. You can't claim a JPN game on a US account. MS accounts aren't, so people exploit it to use a VPN to buy a cheap game like in Turkey and claim it on their US account. That's now bannable and people getting caught doing it are crying that they did nothing wrong.
 
PSN accounts are region locked though. You can't claim a JPN game on a US account. MS accounts aren't, so people exploit it to use a VPN to buy a cheap game like in Turkey and claim it on their US account. That's now bannable and people getting caught doing it are crying that they did nothing wrong.
What's the point of being so called "region free" when buying from another region gets you/that account banned? Your account is essentially region locked.
 
Last edited:
I'm ultra cheap when it comes to sniping digital games and even stooped so low I installed an app to get a deal on fast food.
But I'd never switch vpn regions over pricing. Everyone has a standard.
I hadn't even thought about that aspect of it. Seems like the best strategy for PS would be to "hard localize" any games sold for significantly less. Just make the games mono-language in terms of menus with no option for changing languages. On the flip side digital copies of American games should come with every possible localization built-in to make sure that everyone gets access to the full uncut version of any game.
 
As long as you don't use VPN to act as if you are in a country you aren't at its fine, right? For example, my friend just gifted me a code for MH Wilds, global code, no VPN needed. This is fine, right? However, had he gifted me a US code while I am in The Netherlands...requiring usage of VPN, not good, correct?
 
Won't anyone think of poor Microsoft

Someone used legal means to pay less money so instead of making a better geoblocking system, punish the person who purchased your product
Stores should just put in better security and not go after people who steal from them.
 
This. If companies can take advantage of a global economy then why can't a consumer?
You absolutely can, what's stopping you from moving?

This isn't just about "MS" BTW, if you haven't noticed.. they don't sell that many games lol 3rd parties get a tiny fraction of what they should from you.
 
Last edited:
Won't anyone think of poor Microsoft

Someone used legal means to pay less money so instead of making a better geoblocking system, punish the person who purchased your product
It's a blatant TOS violation, and "better geoblocking" can block legit people, this isn't some 100% solved issue, as VPN companies basically exist on getting new routes / IPs / etc. for customers to use.

And again y'all are completely ignoring that the Xbox store is not just serving up MS"s products.. it's a measure to protect all of their 3rd party partners as well as themselves.
 
Last edited:
As long as you don't use VPN to act as if you are in a country you aren't at its fine, right? For example, my friend just gifted me a code for MH Wilds, global code, no VPN needed. This is fine, right? However, had he gifted me a US code while I am in The Netherlands...requiring usage of VPN, not good, correct?

Exactly.
 
IIRC, Sony doesn't mind this with regards to PSN unless you're trying to pull some scam.
There always needs to be a way for anyone anywhere to get the uncensored US version of any game.

You recall wrong.
Sony straight up doesn't support certain regions and if a game requires a PSN account then that game is effectively digitally banned from that region.

Steam will then respect Sonys wishes and will disallow Sony games from being redeemed outside of PSN regions.
MS rarely if ever region locks games so you can actually buy a code from region X and redeem in region Y.

These guys account/console region switching was a lottery from the get go.

Steam/PSN/XBL can all ban you for exploiting regional pricing and if youve been reaping the rewards so far dont make a fuss if they get around to banning you.
 
It's been getting harder and harder to get discounted keys on Xbox which is a shame as locking me out of foreign keys has swayed my purchases more towards PlayStation again after mostly being series x for most titles this gen aside from exclusives
Built up quite a library across the past 5-6 years on Xbox due to the availability of cheap keys, often on preorder and day one release at 1/3 the cost of rrp digital sometimes
Just means less spending on any console generally as I have a rough budget for gaming and while cheaper keys and gift cards help me push over my budget here and there those $70 and more games don't cut it for me, even for a 1st party exclusive
Ps5 I'm still picking up games from the USA store regularly, but u don't need a vpn on PlayStation
Canada keys seems to be the last hold out for Xbox owners right now, but I wouldn't pump Xbox foreign gift cards into my account anymore given the changes since around September last year
 
Top Bottom