Is Steam affected?

If it is, then using a VPN to bypass local laws will risk your account being restricted.

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Is Steam affected?

I'm really not sure, it looks like the only thing that's affected in Steam is the download region, which has changed to the same region as the VPN's connection. Nothing else seems to have changed, including pricing which is still the same as the UK.

Originally posted by Bosh:

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Is Steam affected?

I'm really not sure, it looks like the only thing that's affected in Steam is the download region, which has changed to the same region as the VPN's connection. Nothing else seems to have changed, including pricing which is still the same as the UK.

I mean, is Steam affected by the act.

Also, a VPN won't switch the region of the account. They use much more to verify the region.

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Originally posted by Bosh:

I'm really not sure, it looks like the only thing that's affected in Steam is the download region, which has changed to the same region as the VPN's connection. Nothing else seems to have changed, including pricing which is still the same as the UK.

I mean, is Steam affected by the act.

That, I don't know. I can only assume "not yet" since it's only starting to be enforced as of today and because sites like Bsky seem to have been affected already.

I guess if Steam does end up getting affected by the dumb act I'll spend a bit of money for a split tunneling feature to exclude steam, since that's all I really care about, assuming that'll do the job.

Originally posted by Bosh:

I guess if Steam does end up getting affected by the dumb act I'll spend a bit of money for a split tunneling feature to exclude steam, since that's all I really care about, assuming that'll do the job.

IT won't. They use more than your IP to verify location.

As others say, a VPN alone will not change your Steam Store region. It can, however, still be detected and flagged during purchases. You don't want to risk that as the result is generally your account losing its buying and key activation privileges on the basis of attempted payment fraud.

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

I mean, is Steam affected by the act.

All sites and apps that provide access to pornography (and other 'harmful to children' content) that have UK users are affected by it.

There's even a handy questionnaire to fill out to check:

https://ofcomlive.my.salesforce-sites.com/formentry/RegulationChecker

So unless they can slide by on it being CG rather than live actors involved (and I haven't been able to find a clear definition of pornography that would exclude it) then yes Steam is affected.

Found an explainer which makes it clear they're being deliberately vague on any definition of pornographic, because it literally just says pornography, whilst stating

content which depicts real or realistic serious violence against a person, or depicts the real or realistic serious injury of a person in graphic detail;

when it comes to violence.

https://www.hsfkramer.com/insights/2025-01/what-is-harmful-content-and-what-are-the-key-duties-under-the-osa-to-protect-children-online

I'm in the same boat
I plan on getting a VPN.

i'm not currently being blocked from anything important but its a slippery slope and with how the Uk is run its only going to get worse.

When buying games through steam would just turning off the VPN and then when done buying turning it back on be enough?

Originally posted by Spogg:

When buying games through steam would just turning off the VPN and then when done buying turning it back on be enough?

It should be. But your use of a VPN with Steam at any point is done so at your own risk; the SSA we all agree to states that a VPN should not be used at all. So, it is for you to decide if the risk is worth taking.

Originally posted by Spogg:

I'm in the same boat
I plan on getting a VPN.

i'm not currently being blocked from anything important but its a slippery slope and with how the Uk is run its only going to get worse.

When buying games through steam would just turning off the VPN and then when done buying turning it back on be enough?

I feel sorry for the U.K. and this single time I legitimatelly cannot blame steam one bti as long as it remains locked EXCLUSIVELY to the U.K. there's nothing much steam can do about it. The U.K. seems tor want it's own chinese firewall and all you can do is VPN while trying to prepare for what has to be done....

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

Originally posted by Spogg:

When buying games through steam would just turning off the VPN and then when done buying turning it back on be enough?

It should be. But your use of a VPN with Steam at any point is done so at your own risk; the SSA we all agree to states that a VPN should not be used at all. So, it is for you to decide if the risk is worth taking.

I never signed such an agreement and was never presented one. Why would I even agree to that? If I have reason to be using a VPN then turning it off for steam is actively dangerous. I donno who's more foolish, the man who signs that agreement or the man who takes any idea of enforcing it seriously.

I mean always keep in mind the courts dont matter to most customers, no one is gonna sue eachother so if someone tells you who they are, believe them. It's just dumb to take it as more than ridiculous.

Edit: I think I will add this because it occurred to me. To anyone in the U.K. using a VPN, I wouldn't be worried about steam. I'd be worried about the government trying to crack against VPNs. If the U.K. will do this to steam you bet your ass they'll try to track your VPN. I wouldnt trust the U.k> knock to give a knock on the door for using one.

Originally posted by videomike_Ultimate_Plushie:

I never signed such an agreement and was never presented one. Why would I even agree to that? If I have reason to be using a VPN then turning it off for steam is actively dangerous. I donno who's more foolish, the man who signs that agreement or the man who takes any idea of enforcing it seriously.

It was presented, and you signed the agreement when you created your Steam account. It is presented and you continue to agree to it every time you purchase a game on or for Steam.


For VPN uasge reference on Steam:

Prohibited Usage:

Bypassing Regional Pricing:
Using a VPN to purchase games at prices not applicable to your actual location is a violation of Steam's Subscriber Agreement.

Circumventing Geographical Restrictions:
Using a VPN to access games or content that are not available in your region is also a violation.

Disguising Location:
Any attempt to disguise your location for the purpose of accessing region-restricted content or purchasing games at lower prices can be flagged and lead to account action.

Purchasing with a VPN:
Using a VPN while making purchases on the Steam store is explicitly prohibited and can result in account suspension or termination.

Originally posted by BJWyler:

Originally posted by videomike_Ultimate_Plushie:

I never signed such an agreement and was never presented one. Why would I even agree to that? If I have reason to be using a VPN then turning it off for steam is actively dangerous. I donno who's more foolish, the man who signs that agreement or the man who takes any idea of enforcing it seriously.

It was presented, and you signed the agreement when you created your Steam account.

let me cut you off here and make this clear. Do not try gaslight me, do not tell me what I have and have no experienced. No contract of the sort was put in front of me. I will not explain my life story as to why that is the case, but I will not be told what I have or have not seen with my own eyes.

Now, to repeat: The idea that steam can decide how you manage your network traffic, especially in regards to a service and system used to protect your privacy from an authoritarian government in which denial of said service is a direct threat to the safety of the user, is so assanine that I am laughing at you for taking it seriously. Even if it was in the contract you should be joining me in laughing in Valve's face because it's a joke a company thinks it can enforce a rule that puts it's customers in actual danger.

Now lets both agree the risk of steam being forced by their own knock on the door by the U.K. police to investigate and get the police sent to the people using a VPN is a far more serious and likely threat. anyone using a VPN to bypass such a government should be aware not of some risk of a merchant being insane....but of the government using that merchant to arrest him.

Originally posted by videomike_Ultimate_Plushie:

I never signed such an agreement and was never presented one. Why would I even agree to that?

But you did. You agreed to it when you made your account. You HAVE to agree to it every time you make a purchase, you cannot complete a purchase without doing so. It is also ALWAYS available for you to read and is linked at the bottom of every page of this site.

The applicable text, by the way, is this:

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to order or purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account.

Originally posted by videomike_Ultimate_Plushie:

Originally posted by BJWyler:

It was presented, and you signed the agreement when you created your Steam account.

let me cut you off here and make this clear. Do not try gaslight me, do not tell me what I have and have no experienced. No contract of the sort was put in front of me.
<snip unimportant diatribe>

Incorrect, bud. And yes Valve has every legal right to control how you interact with and use its own service and platform, and the right to cut off your access if you misuse it. Simple as, Sonny Jim.