A VPN service provider can provide you with many different benefits. One such thing that it does is break through geo-blocks. A use that avid online gamers have found for a VPN’s ability to get past geo-blocks is getting cheaper prices on the games they play online.

Why are there cheaper online games in some countries?

Most online gaming sites, such as Steam, Gog, and Gamers Gate have set up their services so that the prices are not the same across the world. How they’re allowed to do this is beyond me as basing prices on where people are from is borderline racism, and certainly country elitism.

The reason that you can get cheaper online games in one country than another can come down to taxes, currency exchange rates, and anti-piracy measures. That, at least, is the polished message that you’ll get from the video game companies. At the end of the day, they’re just trying to squeeze that last dollar out of you.

This makes it so cheaper online games are found in countries with high piracy issues. The hope is that countries that have high piracy problems will convert more people into paying customers with these cheaper online games.

To put it another way, the countries that break the laws get cheaper online games. The countries which follow the laws do not get cheaper online games. Funny how the world works, isn’t it?

The pros and cons of using a VPN to get cheaper online games

The big fat pro is obvious: You get cheaper online games by using the country code of a country where the games are cheaper. The VPN does this as you can change what you IP address says about where you are. For instance, my IP address says I’m writing this from London, England. But I’ve never once set foot on British soil!

The cons with using a VPN to get cheaper online games can be severe if you don’t know what you’re doing. If your VPN drops, and exposes your true location, your account can be marked as fraudulent. This can lead to your account being suspended, losing your gaming account, and everything associated with your account.

I don’t advocate committing fraud, but how you can get around this is to use a VPN provider with a good Internet kill switch. This shuts down your connection when the IP address changes, making it so your true location is never shown.

Should you use a VPN to get cheaper online games?

The risks are there, no doubt about it. But if you’re up for the risk, and choose a VPN provider with a reliable Internet kill switch like IPVanish, the risk can be minimal. A savvy Internet gamer who pays lots of money got their games, and never pirates, could use a break now and then.

I’m not one to begrudge someone trying to save a buck, but be aware of what may happen if you’re found out!

Feature image via lassedesigned / Shutterstock