You found a great price on a game code, you redeem it… and get an error. Most of the time, the reason is a region lock. Here's how it works and how to avoid it.
What is a region lock?
Publishers and platforms sell digital products at different prices in different countries. To keep those prices separate, many codes only work on accounts registered in a specific region.
The regions you'll see most often
- Global: works on accounts from any country. The safest choice.
- EU / Europe: works on accounts registered in European countries.
- US / North America: works on US (and sometimes Canadian) accounts.
- Country-specific (for example UK or Turkey): works only in that country.
How to check your account region
Your region is usually the country you chose when you created your account, or the country of your payment method. You'll find it in your account settings on the platform, often under Country or Region.
Our checklist before you buy
- Look at the Region on the product page.
- Compare it with your account's country.
- Check the Platform (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, mobile…).
- Read the Activation & terms section: it explains how to redeem.
If you're not sure, ask us before buying: we'd rather answer a question than replace a code.
Can I use a VPN to redeem a region-locked code?
Many platforms forbid it in their terms, and it can get an account restricted. We don't recommend it. Choose a code that matches your account instead.