GAMES WITH GOLD IN OTHER REGIONS

NeckPUNCHattack · Mar 1, 2020

Hi!

I have a question regarding purchases of free games with gold games in other regions and I’m getting mixed answers.

Currently, there are 2 games (which I wont name) being offered on the Xbox Japan store that are free this month with the games with gold deal and they are different from the ones that just became available on the U.S. store. I’ve read conflicting things,
saying that its okay to get the games since they’re free via games with gold, but some people are also saying in forum posts in here that it isnt okay. I contacted MS support today and I was told by the rep that it is okay, but i’m still unsure and very weary
after hearing 2 opposite things.

Just to be clear, if you access the Japan store instead of the U.S. store, the games are free. It doesnt say the games are region locked. Its just a matter of opening the japan store and viewing the games instead of the U.S. store. There is no subverting
regions to access the games... its literally just a different web link.

With all of this info I’ve written, could someone give me a definitive answer as to whether its okay or not to get these games with gold games? After reading so many people saying its okay (and hearing the MS rep say so as well), I’d normally accept the
answer that its fine, but still, I’ve had my MS account for 10 years and I always make sure to never jeopardize it and I always follow the terms of service, so before I even thought about listening to everyone else, I wanted to get a definitive answer to clear
up any confusion.

Any and all responses from MS support would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to look into and answer my question!

:)

Zir Weiss

You're actually wrong on this one. I own physical imports of two japanese xbox 360 steins;gate games and they play perfectly fine on my american xbox one x.

NeckPUNCHattack

Thanks for the heads up! I've used Xbox Live for nearly 13 years, and do this now and again, so wouldn't worry too much about it.

L

Appreciate the response! I guess because these games on the U.S. marketplace cost money and they’re free on the Japan marketplace, it felt wrong to acquire them because it felt like subverting the rules. I still havent gotten around to buying them, but its
good to know you’ve done this off and on and you’ve had XBL for that long.

I guess what I should’ve said earlier is that the games that are truly Japan store only (I referred to them as region locked even though none of xbox’s games are region locked... I just used the term to specifically say “a game that I cant acquire in the
U.S.”)... I wonder when they become free, is that something that can be considered breaking the ToU? I know the ToU cover a broad area of topics, but specifically, I’ve never been able to find out this answer. I know it doesnt apply to these Japan games with
gold this month, but thats what I was ultimately wondering... if its okay to buy Japan only games? I know people who have separate region/country consoles for older 360 region locked games, but since the xb1 doesnt actually region lock their games, that doesnt
apply. So, I’m wondering if a Japanese only game falls under the category of “its against the ToU” or if its okay to acquire?

Anyway, I apologize for the lengthy “expanded” question, but I should’ve been more thorough with my original question. If you happen to know, I’d appreciate to hear back, but if not, dont worry... you’ve pretty much answered my initial question. Either way,
again, thanks for the response! Really appreciate it!

NeckPUNCHattack

I dont think you fully understand the terms of use

One only XBOX 360 games are region locked

So trying to get any xbox 360 games with gold will require an unauthorized method

And no the games will NOT tell you if they are region locked unless you try and download them

Two you can set the marketplace to japan by changing the console region

But it WONT bypass the problem that will occur instantly when you try and download games with gold 360 games

Error this game isnt available in your region

I totally appreciate your condescending response! You being an xbox ambassador, its so nice being called someone stupid (“dont understand the ToU”), focusing on a topic that wasnt even up for question (360 region locked games), and further discussing something
that I made sure to say clearly didnt happen... changing the console’s region.

Maybe you need to brush up on the xbox ambassador’s pledge... especially the 5th pledge... “I Positively represent the Xbox Ambassadors community online.” The only notible thing I got from your response was that you are very rude.

I didnt change my region... I wasnt even on my console. As I stated, If you type in the japanese game link, it doesnt change your region, it brings up the Japan store. I didnt do anything to alter or trick the system (VPN, region change, etc), I simply viewed
the game via the Japan store, not U.S. and it showed as a free game with gold.

Thanks, but it seems the other ambassadors who responded were nicer and more helpful. I’ll take their word on this subject. They were able to respond in a pleasant manner. Have a wonderful day.

Smokum Kush

Ok, how do I access the Japan store?

NeckPUNCHattack

This is interesting. I never heard of this before, as I've always assumed Games with Gold titles were the same in all regions.

I would suggest https://beta.support.xbox.com/contact-us for confirmation.

From time to time, different regions (for one reason or another) don’t or can’t offer the same GwG titles, so instead, they’ll offer some alternate game(s). The current ones being offered for free on the Japan marketplace arent even big games (and they might
not be that good as well), but they are alternate ones nonetheless.

Anyway, thanks for the link! Thats a good place to try to find answers (but unfortunately I already contacted them before I made this post lol). At least anyone who reads this can use that link to get clarification on a question they might have. Thanks again!

GAMES WITH GOLD IN OTHER REGIONS