Bought a wrong game code

Hey again,

Digged more info in more forums and Xbox/Microsoft TOS and found a possible explanation.

The code is region locked because it was bought as a gift code by a person in the UK and later that person sold it through a third party, where you MAY have bought from.

Xbox One is region free, that means that you can play physical games from Japan with your EU console but digital codes are region locked.

Found a reason why: because different countries have different laws and taxation and that means it's very hard to globalize digital codes.

To POSSIBLY (can't guarantee that) use the code, you have to change your account's region
BUT you will not be able to change it back in 90 days and maybe all your already bought/redeemed games may not appear or be able to play them when your account is set for UK region, also when you change back your account to Netherlands, you may not
be able to play Sea of Thieves (so I strongly do not recommend this)

What I find as a solid solution:

- Try to get a refund from that third party you bought the code from or if the code was bought from xbox/microsoft, get a refund from them.

I know it's infuriating, I would be too (that's why I prefer physical games, less hassle and much simpler )

I'm sorry I couldn't solve your problem playing Sea of Thieves.

Use of a VPN to bypass region restrictions would put you at risk for being banned and still might not work. In order to use region locked codes, your account region and your physical location have to match the code.

If its region locked its region locked no way around it. All sales should be finial when it comes to code cards. Just have to be careful when purchasing that its in the region you live in.

Hey Ulgrot,

As far as I know, Xbox One games are region free, X360 games are region locked.

Try logging on Xbox website with your account and redeem your code there.

The console needs to be in the region your redeem code is locked in.

Also you can try to refund your purchase, from what I know, EU countries have a 30-day return policy.

Can you give me more details?

Like:

- What console do you have?

- What game did you buy?

- For what console did you buy the code? You can buy 360 games and redeem them on Xbox One

- Do you get an error when redeeming?

Any detail is useful.

If you Use of a VPN to bypass region restrictions you will be banned i think.