As in, the money goes via the proper channels. Not on about the processing and receiving of keys, I have used both and they are both spot on for that purpose.
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CD Keys or GMG? Which is the most "legit"
- Thread starter Norwegian_Imposter
- Start date
Pretty sure both buy old keys in bulk and new ones have to come from devs/pubs anyway so either one is "legit". I think g2a and kinguin were the only shady ones where individuals can sell keys.
GMG is "legit", but i prefer CDkeys over them anyday of the week. Buy almost all of my new PC games there.
GMG gets keys generated by the publisher.
CDKeys uses physical copies, usually from other regions.
CDKeys uses physical copies, usually from other regions.
I havent't used GMG in a while since I tend to just get stuff directly from Steam. I do use CDKeys a fair bit for things like PS+/XBL/Gamepass subs and occasional digital console games. No probs with either.
Cdkeys buys copies from other regions. That's why they offer cheaper prices. It's still "legit" and legal.
Both are legit.
CDKeys is not like other key stores, where users can sell "who-knows-from-where" keys, CDKeys obtain them directly from the distributors as retail keys. They're cheaper because they're from cheaper regions.
CDKeys is not like other key stores, where users can sell "who-knows-from-where" keys, CDKeys obtain them directly from the distributors as retail keys. They're cheaper because they're from cheaper regions.
Both are grey market key sites. As in, they purchase keys in bulk from cheap countries and sell them worldwide at discount prices. It's "legitimate", and saves folks money, but ultimately problematic for video game publishers/developers. For those saying GMG entirely sources through normal distribution methods, they have been caught quite a few times selling grey market keys.
Edit
Looks like GMG has changed policies recently and appear to only use publisher direct keys rather than anything grey market.
Edit
Looks like GMG has changed policies recently and appear to only use publisher direct keys rather than anything grey market.
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Pretty sure GMG still sometimes sell keys sourced from the grey market, but flag them as such when they do. They certainly did for a while.
Edit: in my extensive experience, CDkeys are quite reliable and have excellent customer service. No major complaints regarding GMG on those fronts either.
Edit2: and people really should define what they mean by "legit" when having these conversations (like OP did), otherwise people will just be talking at cross-purposes.
Edit: in my extensive experience, CDkeys are quite reliable and have excellent customer service. No major complaints regarding GMG on those fronts either.
Edit2: and people really should define what they mean by "legit" when having these conversations (like OP did), otherwise people will just be talking at cross-purposes.
Here's a fact. I bought Rage 2 from them as they advertised a worldwide steam key. Couple weeks later i learned they changed it to a Europe only bethesda key, and they didnt tell me.
Therefore, with the facts, CD Keys is less legit than GMG, which i have not had that issue yet.
Key sellers can be put into three categories
1. Authorized key sellers (Green Man Gaming, Humble Store, Gamesplanet, Voidu, Fanatical, etc.)
These stores have a direct publishing deal with the game publisher, similar to Steam. The publisher gets a cut from the sale. Green Man Gaming belongs to this category. The publisher or developer gets the same 70% cut from the full price as if you bought the game from Steam.
2. Retail key resellers (CDKeys, Instant-Gaming, etc.)
These stores take keys out of retail copies and re-sell them. The disc is not needed for any PC game these days so it's a legit business. The publisher will get however much they would have got from a boxed copy sale, which is almost always less than direct from Steam. CDKeys belongs to this category.
3. Key ebays (G2A, Kinguin, G2Play)
Here's the bad guys. These sites aren't stores, but platforms where anyone can sell keys that they have obtained from anywhere. Because anyone can sell anything, this is where all the fraud happens. The sites also sell some kind of insurance service so that if you buy something obtained via fraud and the key gets revoked, the site will replace it for you. It's very shady, and you should avoid these at all times.
4. Directly from developer
Not exactly a store, but a method of purchase. Some publishers and developers just use Steamworks to generate some keys and will sell them for you on their website. Humble Bundle offers a "Humble Widget" for indie developers who want to do this which gives the devs a 95% cut.
1. Authorized key sellers (Green Man Gaming, Humble Store, Gamesplanet, Voidu, Fanatical, etc.)
These stores have a direct publishing deal with the game publisher, similar to Steam. The publisher gets a cut from the sale. Green Man Gaming belongs to this category. The publisher or developer gets the same 70% cut from the full price as if you bought the game from Steam.
2. Retail key resellers (CDKeys, Instant-Gaming, etc.)
These stores take keys out of retail copies and re-sell them. The disc is not needed for any PC game these days so it's a legit business. The publisher will get however much they would have got from a boxed copy sale, which is almost always less than direct from Steam. CDKeys belongs to this category.
3. Key ebays (G2A, Kinguin, G2Play)
Here's the bad guys. These sites aren't stores, but platforms where anyone can sell keys that they have obtained from anywhere. Because anyone can sell anything, this is where all the fraud happens. The sites also sell some kind of insurance service so that if you buy something obtained via fraud and the key gets revoked, the site will replace it for you. It's very shady, and you should avoid these at all times.
4. Directly from developer
Not exactly a store, but a method of purchase. Some publishers and developers just use Steamworks to generate some keys and will sell them for you on their website. Humble Bundle offers a "Humble Widget" for indie developers who want to do this which gives the devs a 95% cut.
I think it depends per game? They list the source of the key on the game's store page. For example, this is on Shadow of the Tomb Raider's page:
Should probably be noted that with #2 you can run into issues with the key not working in your region, the store changing that information last minute, etc, as some publishers have tried to limit the practice.
I think it depends per game? They list the source of the key on the game's store page. For example, this is on Shadow of the Tomb Raider's page:
To my knowledge they have been caught in the past saying that the keys were direct from a publisher only to be found that they were not. I'm pretty sure the policy of disclosing the source is not something they always did in the past, but I'm not sure on that part. Ultimately GMG is fine store, and have many legitimate partnerships, but they certainly operate in that grey realm.
This basically. Even GMG sometimes resels keys like CDkeys, but they will tell you on the games page.
Ok, that's fair and I am sorry you had that experience with them.
That doesn't make them any less legitimate though, that's one experience, I have had bad experiences with both cdkeys (delay of key for 48 hours because their systems just randomly decided to drop out) and GMG (wrong key given to me and a nightmare trying to obtain the correct one after complaining.)
Those aren't representative of their sites in general though and are isolated incidents, doesn't make either one less legit.
Both are almost exclusively where I buy PC games. Both great, both legit. CDKeys is just the one that operates in the "gray" area.
Changing products on someone to something literally unusable without telling them is about the least legit business practice i can think of, so defending that will never be a good look. They apparently put up many games for preorder advertising one thing when they have no idea what they are actually getting.
Just letting the people know so they dont get bit, especially in the age of all these storefronts and publishers getting specific with regions and keys.
Both are legit but you have to watch CDKeys like the stock market. Pre-release game prices will often fluctuate and you may miss out on a good deal.
They stopped selling grey market keys, most likely in response to ITAD and /r/gamedeals no longer listing them. There's now a banner on their site stating "Every game comes direct from publishers."I think it depends per game? They list the source of the key on the game's store page. For example, this is on Shadow of the Tomb Raider's page:
GMG have done some somewhat dodgy stuff in the past usually around marketing but they are genuine.
I am not defending it, I am as pro-consumer as they come (hence why I think legit resellers are good) but I think it's terrible what they did and if what you're saying is true and they do that all the time then it's seriously indefensible.
What I am saying is, I have never run into this issue so I can't speak from personal experience on the matter to validate it.
I have been exclusively using GMG, Humble and CDKEYS for years now and they are the only two incidents I have ever run into (the ones I mentioned) and the only store I buy direct from is GOG.
That being said, I think you're right to let people know so they don't get bit, i'm not criticising you for that, I was simply saying that your experience alone doesn't make them not legitimate, many people use them and have never had these issues (like myself.)
That being said though, I never pre-order games so that's probably why I haven't experienced it.
Used CDKeys for years and never had a problem. They are legit.
Never used GMG myself but they are also a legit site.
Never used GMG myself but they are also a legit site.
lmao, validate it. Ok, well, anyone that bought Rage 2 from them expecting a worldwide steam key can validate that for you, as it wasnt a specific instance, but a more broad problem with their site and the way they handle the sourcing of keys, which is make it up until they know, and after they've taken your money, don't tell you about it. I bet a bunch of people got screwed on that one, not to mention you hear of this as a recurring problem in the PC thread from time to time. It's why GMG has put the sourcing info on their site, and they will also notify of drm changes.
It's not true that all GMG keys are from publishers, some are. For games where they cannot procure keys from the publisher, it's from "authorized reseller"s, which they have refused to clarify what means.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GameDealsMeta/comments/6or3rl/gamedeals_and_greenmangaming_a_history/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GameDealsMeta/comments/6or3rl/gamedeals_and_greenmangaming_a_history/