How to Unlock Region Locked Games Using PureVPN

Some games aren’t available everywhere. Depending on your location, you might find certain titles missing from stores, servers locked to other regions, or releases delayed or unavailable altogether. That’s because availability can vary based on where you’re connecting from. 

This type of restriction is commonly known as region locking, which a VPN can help with if access is based on IP location. In this guide, we’ll explain why some games are region-locked and how players can use a VPN service like PureVPN to access them. 

Why do region-locked games exist?

Games are region-locked for a few common reasons, such as:

Licensing and distribution agreements

Game publishers often sell distribution rights on a regional basis. A publisher may only have permission to sell or operate a game in certain countries. Region locking helps enforce these licensing boundaries across different markets.

Staggered regional releases

Games aren’t always released globally at once. Publishers may roll out launches region by region due to marketing plans, localization work, or server readiness. Region locks prevent access in areas where a release isn’t officially live yet.

Regional pricing and market differences

Game prices can vary by country based on currency, local taxes, purchasing power, or platform pricing rules. Region locking is sometimes used to maintain these regional price differences and prevent cross-region purchasing.

Legal and regulatory requirements

Some regions have laws that affect how games can be sold or accessed, including content regulations or age restrictions. Region locking allows publishers to comply with these rules by limiting availability in certain countries.

Can a VPN help you access region-locked games?

Yes, a VPN can help access some region-locked games by changing the location a gaming platform or service sees when you connect. If a game or server is restricted based on IP location, connecting through a VPN server in a supported region may make that content available.

However, VPNs don’t work for every type of region lock. If access is tied to an account’s store region, purchase history, or platform-specific rules, changing IP location alone may not be enough to unlock the game or content. This is why results can vary between games and platforms.

How to unlock region-locked games using PureVPN

Follow this step-by-step guide to access region-locked games with the help of PureVPN:

Step #1: Check the region where the game is available

Before connecting, identify the country or region the game, server, or release is available in. This matters because region locks are often tied to where a platform expects the connection to come from.

Step #2: Open PureVPN and connect to a server in that region

Launch the PureVPN app and select a server location that matches the region you’re trying to access. Once connected, the platform will typically detect the new location based on the VPN server.

Step #3: Restart the game platform or launcher

Close the store or launcher completely and reopen it after connecting to the VPN. Many platforms cache location details, so you’ll have to restart to make sure the updated region is recognized.

Step #4: Launch the game and check availability

Open the game or store page again and see if the region-locked content is now accessible. If the restriction is not IP-based, access may still be limited by account, store, or purchase settings.

Best practices for using a VPN to unlock region-locked games

These tips can help you avoid common issues when using a VPN for region-locked games:

• Use obfuscation if VPN traffic is blocked: Some platforms detect and restrict standard VPN traffic. Enabling obfuscation can help mask VPN usage and allow connections in cases where VPN access is limited.

• Connect to the correct regional server: Make sure to choose a server in the region where the game or content is available. Connecting to the wrong country can result in the game still appearing unavailable.

• Avoid switching locations too frequently: Rapidly changing VPN locations can cause inconsistencies with game platforms or launchers. Staying connected to one region during access helps avoid access issues.

• Make sure the game store and game region align: Some games are tied to the region set on the store or account, not just IP location. If the store region and VPN server don’t match, certain games or editions may remain unavailable.

• Clear cached data when changing regions: Game launchers and stores may cache location information. Restarting the launcher or clearing cached data after switching VPN regions helps ensure the new location is detected correctly.

Is it legal to access region-locked games with a VPN?

Using a VPN is legal in most countries, and connecting to one does not automatically break the law. From a legal standpoint, connecting to a VPN to change your IP location is generally permitted in regions where VPN use itself is allowed.

However, legality is separate from platform or publisher rules. Many game publishers and digital stores include region-based restrictions in their terms of service. Accessing region-locked games with a VPN may violate those terms, even if it does not violate local law.

Because laws and platform policies vary by country and service, players should review local regulations and the terms of the game or platform they are using. A VPN does not change legal requirements or platform rules and only affects how a connection is routed.

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