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Xbox Players Say They're Being 'Banned Indefinitely' For Using A VPN​

Xbox Players Say They're Being 'Banned Indefinitely' For Using A VPN

Heed this warning

www.purexbox.com

 

[Pop]

Players say a lot of things when its conveniently not their fault

Edit: I knew it

 

[Roberts]

Good thing I am too lazy to even learn how to use VPN.

 

[Astray]

Players say a lot of things when its conveniently not their fault

To be very fair, Xbox ToS doesn't forbid the usage of VPNs, nor is it explicit on what it considers "VPN abuse" either.

 

[cormack12]

According to Xbox's support team, that particular ban was for "exploiting the differences in pricing" on the Xbox Store rather than anything specific to the VPN.

 

[Spyxos]

It was clear that MS would stop this at some point. They were playing with fire.

 

[mhirano]

That is very sad for the few dozen of people who owns Xboxes and still buy games

 

[Kerotan]

Microsoft banning Xbox players so they rebuy their digital libraries on the PS5.

 

[SweetTooth]

Cmon DenchDeckard .. must have been some of your 300 Xboxes accounts

 

[simpatico]

Are these players just using it for MP or are they “using” it to abuse exchange rates on digital purchases?

 

[POKEYCLYDE]

Using a VPN to get cheaper store prices will probably result in a ban. Who would've thought.

 

[intbal]

I don't know anything about VPN usage.

What other reason would you have for using one in conjunction with an Xbox?

 

[TehGoomba7s]

I don't know anything about VPN usage.

What other reason would you have for using one in conjunction with an Xbox?

Cheaper store prices, where you can activate other regions codes that are much cheaper. You can also use it to abuse matchmaking in games like CoD that has strict SBMM. Most streamers you see on CoD or YouTube gameplay are using VPNs to get easier lobbies

 

[adamsapple]

I don't know anything about VPN usage.

What other reason would you have for using one in conjunction with an Xbox?

Cheap digital prices from regions like Turkey, Argentina. Games are often a third or lower by comparison to the US.

 

[SJRB]

Having the geographical location you happen to reside in dictate how much you have to pay for a game is dumb, but permabanning people over using a vpn is straight up retarded.

 

[saintjules]

Good thing I am too lazy to even learn how to use VPN.

It's pretty much a set it and forget it kind of thing. Proton VPN is a great one. I use it because Optimum sucks and if I 'download' something I can get a strike on my account. VPN hides me from them knowing what I download.

 

[LectureMaster]

According to Xbox's support team, that particular ban was for "exploiting the differences in pricing" on the Xbox Store rather than anything specific to the VPN.

 

[artsi]

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

 

[adamsapple]

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

I've used VPNs myself but I would never call it
'legal means to pay less money'.

 

[Topher]

Having the geographical location you happen to reside in dictate how much you have to pay for a game is dumb, but permabanning people over using a vpn is straight up retarded.

Isn't this necessary due to exchange rates though? And if so, makes sense that they are going to enforce the policy. This just seem entirely normal in a digital marketplace that spans many regions.

 

[artsi]

I've used VPNs myself but I would never call it
'legal means to pay less money'.

Well it's definitely not illegal and you still pay the price Microsoft has listed themselves.

Microsoft could easily block the account from purchasing in that region but instead they choose to refuse any future money by giving a permanent ban.

 

[ManaByte]

Topic should be updated to clarify they were using the VPN to exploit regional pricing, which is bannable.

 

[Kacho]

This should be common knowledge.

 

[Shtef]

Why would you need to use vpn in a first palce when you can just switch the region in settings and access that store right away?
I live in a country where neither ms nor sony supports it and the only way to buy games is to select different region. I hope i dont get banned for buying games from US store.

 

[Orpheus]

Topic should be updated to clarify they were using the VPN to exploit regional pricing, which is bannable.

Updated

 

[Skifi28]

Why would you need to use vpn in a first palce when you can just switch the region in settings and access that store right away?
I live in a country where neither ms nor sony supports it and the only way to buy games is to select different region. I hope i dont get banned for buying games from US store.

Too late, reported to Phil and Hermen.

 

[Topher]

Why would you need to use vpn in a first palce when you can just switch the region in settings and access that store right away?
I live in a country where neither ms nor sony supports it and the only way to buy games is to select different region. I hope i dont get banned for buying games from US store.

 

[Banjo64]

This is a surprise to me. People have been exploiting regional pricing for years. Constantly on Hotukdeals, people on here recommending it for Turkish Game Pass subs.

Banning people is defiantly new as far as I know, even if it’s in the Ts and Cs.

 

[Topher]

people on here recommending it for Turkish Game Pass subs.

Let's not name any names cough@adamsapplecough

 

[LectureMaster]

This is a surprise to me. People have been exploiting regional pricing for years. Constantly on Hotukdeals, people on here recommending it for Turkish Game Pass subs.

Banning people is defiantly new as far as I know, even if it’s in the Ts and Cs.

I remember MS made an announcement last year announcing exploiting game pass regional price is violation of terms of service.

 

[VolticArchangel]

Steam does this too, not sure about Playstation.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Well, for many in Eastern Europe Xbox was viable only because of hacks with the pricing. With this stunts (though totally understandable) MS is basically killing few Xboxes left outside of a golden billion.

 

[LectureMaster]

Let's not name any names cough@adamsapplecough

 

[YeulEmeralda]

This is a surprise to me. People have been exploiting regional pricing for years. Constantly on Hotukdeals, people on here recommending it for Turkish Game Pass subs.

Banning people is defiantly new as far as I know, even if it’s in the Ts and Cs.

Not that gamers will give a shit but this ultimately will lead to the end of regional prices. Turks having to pay the same as Dutch customers.

 

[adamsapple]

Not that gamers will give a shit but this ultimately will lead to the end of regional prices. Turks having to pay the same as Dutch customers.

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.

 

[Lorianus]

This is a surprise to me. People have been exploiting regional pricing for years. Constantly on Hotukdeals, people on here recommending it for Turkish Game Pass subs.

Banning people is defiantly new as far as I know, even if it’s in the Ts and Cs.

This is technically VAT fraud not that any country would enforce it but technically people are bypassing their countrys taxes by doing it.

 

[FingerBang]

They (MS at least) have stopped this a while ago. Even with a Turkish credit card they made it impossible. It's becoming harder and harder to buy via VPN. I'm down to only a couple of stores that le me do it but my god is it scary.

Also, it really depends on the game. Its not an cheap as it used to be. Buying from the US is sometimes cheaper. Crazy.

 

[LectureMaster]

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.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

the last i heard MS doesn't care about money. using a VPN it's a Chooiiice

 

[CLW]

Xbox banning the five people left buying actual games….

 

[Killer8]

He probably was easily caught because why on Earth would anyone move to Argentina?

 

[No BBC=Anger]

Some of these walled garden digital prices are nuts. €30+ for 12 year old games. And single player. Just go PC and don't look back.

 

[RespawnX]

Yes, corporations make billions by outsourcing labor and exploiting developing countries. They call this fun “globalization”. But beware the customer who wants a piece of the “globalization” pie.

Let's see if I really renew my game pass next year. I doubt it at the moment.

 

[El Muerto]

I'm guilty of this but havent done it recently. There's goes cheap games and gamepass.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

Xbox banning the five people left buying actual games….

VPN ? What's that ? Is it on Gamepass® ? I ain't spending a dime, imma wait for it to come to Gamepass®.

Gamepass®, the best deal in gaming

 

[Stafford]

Topic should be updated to clarify they were using the VPN to exploit regional pricing, which is bannable.

Is that like....you live in the US, but you see a code on say Eneba or Kinguin, but it's a code for Brazil. You put your VPN on phone or pc to Brazil, then redeem code on Xbox site, done?

Because I've done that before. Especially for some smaller games that were dirt cheap. If it's that I'm gonna quit with that.

 

[rofif]

my ancient 360 was banned for playing pirated halo3, 2 weeks before release.
Sure... let's ban A WHOLE CONSOLE (not a profile) from ever again permanently accessing online. Even updates.
That will tech him... and funny thing was... I was still buying like 50% of my 360 games which was pretty impressive as young teen. Everyone was pirating everything.
note, I've not pirated like a single game in last .... 15 years?... and that's very impressive being Polish and not pirating. believe me lol. I am basically a fucking sucker

edit: all I ever got from that experience? Never trust 1 company with your digital library. PS4/ps5 are mostly physical for me

 

[ManaByte]

Is that like....you live in the US, but you see a code on say Eneba or Kinguin, but it's a code for Brazil. You put your VPN on phone or pc to Brazil, then redeem code on Xbox site, done?

Because I've done that before. Especially for some smaller games that were dirt cheap. If it's that I'm gonna quit with that.

It’s that. It’s bannable now. Doesn’t matter where you live.

 

[Guardian Monkey]

I mean it’s not like Xbox nor any other tech company doesn’t use regional pricing for labor.

 

[Nex240]

Companies like Microsoft using cheaper 3rd world labor is cool though. rules for thee, not for me.