Can I activate a European console game code in the U.S. if I use a VPN?

[PackYourBaggins]

There's a PS5 game I wanna buy that is significantly cheaper on a key website, but it can only be activated in Europe. Can I use a VPN to bypass this? I tried googling for this answer but I couldn't get a clear yes or no.

[PackYourBaggins]

1 minute ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn said:

Yes.

Massive W. Thanks.

[Alex Atkin UK]

6 minutes ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn said:

Yes. Although, read Terms of Service of PS.

Are you sure?  When I activated some US keys I had to register a US account, the region I was in didn't matter, it was the region of the account itself that mattered.

[PackYourBaggins]

2 minutes ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn said:

I edited my post, because I know that Steam has IP proxying restriction in its Terms.

 

Direct quote.

 

Doing a quick skim of the TOS on PlayStation's website using CTRL+F, I wasn't able to find anything mentioning VPNs, IPs, or proxies.

[PackYourBaggins]

6 minutes ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Are you sure?  When I activated some US keys I had to register a US account, the region I was in didn't matter, it was the region of the account itself that mattered.

I hadn't considered this. Perhaps I'll just have to fork over the $70 price tag after all.

[JR1911]

I suppose you could create a new EU account, use that to redeem the code and download the game and then play it on your US account. I've used a US account to get a few games on my PS4, I haven't tried it on PS5 but I'd assume it works the same way.

[PackYourBaggins]

21 minutes ago, JR1911 said:

I suppose you could create a new EU account, use that to redeem the code and download the game and then play it on your US account. I've used a US account to get a few games on my PS4, I haven't tried it on PS5 but I'd assume it works the same way.

Will it let me create an EU account if I live in the U.S.? How does that work? It's been a very long time since I created my PSN account so I can't recall that option.

[JR1911]

8 hours ago, PackYourBaggins said:

Will it let me create an EU account if I live in the U.S.? How does that work? It's been a very long time since I created my PSN account so I can't recall that option.

It should let you, just select some random European address when creating the account and you should be good to go.

[Mark Kaine]

On 2/5/2023 at 9:36 PM, PackYourBaggins said:

Doing a quick skim of the TOS on PlayStation's website using CTRL+F, I wasn't able to find anything mentioning VPNs, IPs, or proxies.

you don't need a VPN, unlike STEAM consoles are not region locked.

 

ps: btw lying about your region is still against the PSN TOS  - but its sort of a grey area, since they allow it, even used to advertise the fact afaik. 

[Mark Kaine]

On 2/6/2023 at 8:30 AM, JR1911 said:

It should let you, just select some random European address when creating the account and you should be good to go.

dont use Buckingham Palace, my friend did that, it didn't end well for him ~

 

 

[PackYourBaggins]

On 2/14/2023 at 12:14 AM, Mark Kaine said:

you don't need a VPN, unlike STEAM consoles are not region locked.

 

ps: btw lying about your region is still against the PSN TOS  - but its sort of a grey area, since they allow it, even used to advertise the fact afaik. 

Actually? So I can just buy a EU PS5 game code and it'll work if I'm in the U.S.? That's big.

[Mark Kaine]

4 minutes ago, PackYourBaggins said:

Actually? So I can just buy a EU PS5 game code and it'll work if I'm in the U.S.? That's big.

yeah i had us jp hk eu accounts on my ps3 /ps4 ... there is no region lock, since almost 20 years now... 

 

i even got a "tax refund" once because according to some US court us PSN was taking tax from me illegally, some 20 bucks or so

[PackYourBaggins]

On 2/20/2023 at 7:31 PM, Mark Kaine said:

yeah i had us jp hk eu accounts on my ps3 /ps4 ... there is no region lock, since almost 20 years now... 

 

i even got a "tax refund" once because according to some US court us PSN was taking tax from me illegally, some 20 bucks or so

So I still have to activate the code on a EU account?