Thinking of permanently switching regions on my xbox. Any unintended/adverse consequences I should know of?

DJwest · Nov 24, 2020

Hi guys.

So when I bought my xbox 360 back in the day, I used the UK as the console's region. The pound is making game purchases quite expensive so I would like to permanently switch my region to the US even though I don't live there.

I have a few questions:

1-Will I keep access to the games I bought from other regions? (this should be a yes but I'm still asking just in case)
2-Are DLCs region locked?
3-Is there any issue I could encounter in the future with my account?

Thanks

falconhoof17 · Nov 24, 2020

I'm not sure about the answers to any of those questions (sorry) but if you do it make sure you tell them you're in a state that doesn't tax games.

Puroresu_kid · Nov 24, 2020

I thought xbox was like switch where DLC is region free

Starlatine · Nov 24, 2020

DJwest said:
Hi guys.

So when I bought my xbox 360 back in the day, I used the UK as the console's region. The pound is making game purchases quite expensive so I would like to permanently switch my region to the US even though I don't live there.

I have a few questions:

1-Will I keep access to the games I bought from other regions? (this should be a yes but I'm still asking just in case)
2-Are DLCs region locked?
3-Is there any issue I could encounter in the future with my account?

Thanks

sorry for being vague, but i'm not entirely sure either. can just use my personal experience and what i heard to try helping

1- yes, except for region locked 360/og content
2- i dont think they are on the x1, but i could be wrong. i dont remember any of the content in any of my x1 games being region specific and i changed them quite a bit
3- as i said, i changed them quite a bit all gen with no repercussion, and i dont remember hearing anyone else having issues either. i dont think microsoft cares as long as youre buying from their store.

DJwest · Nov 24, 2020

falconhoof17 said:
I'm not sure about the answers to any of those questions (sorry) but if you do it make sure you tell them you're in a state that doesn't tax games.

Thanks for the tip!

Puroresu_kid said:
I thought xbox was like switch where DLC is region free

I think so too, I just want confirmation.

Starlatine said:
sorry for being vague, but i'm not entirely sure either. can just use my personal experience and what i heard to try helping

1- yes, except for region locked 360/og content
2- i dont think they are on the x1, but i could be wrong. i dont remember any of the content in any of my x1 games being region specific and i changed them quite a bit
3- as i said, i changed them quite a bit all gen with no repercussion, and i dont remember hearing anyone else having issues either. i dont think microsoft cares as long as youre buying from their store.

Wow. I need to check if my 360 games are region locked, I didn't think of that. Theoretically they should work again if I switch back to UK right?

Matty H · Nov 24, 2020

I used to switch regions on X1 when different regions would have different 'Games With Gold' for the month. Also, I used to purchase $US Xbox Live credit, and was given a few $US Xbox Live vouchers so I could buy games way cheaper than $Aus. I now leave my console set to Australia and i'm pretty sure all my X1 game purchases are available.

There might be a few back compat games locked to other regions though.

Starlatine · Nov 24, 2020

DJwest said:
Wow. I need to check if my 360 games are region locked, I didn't think of that. Theoretically they should work again if I switch back to UK right?

yeah they do. a quick reboot takes care of it

DJwest · Nov 24, 2020

Starlatine said:
yeah they do. a quick reboot takes care of it

Perfect. I guess there is no risk then. Thanks

Peckmore · Nov 24, 2020

DJwest said:
So when I bought my xbox 360 back in the day, I used the UK as the console's region. The pound is making game purchases quite expensive so I would like to permanently switch my region to the US even though I don't live there.

I posted this in another thread, but you can buy from any region on the same account without switching your account region as long as you have a valid payment method. And all games are region free (including BC titles).

The easiest way is just to buy credit for a region (from places like CD Keys, Amazon, etc.), then add it to your account at the point of purchasing a title from that region.

I can personally confirm this works, as I'm in the UK and have bought titles from the US store several times, all on the same account, and my region has always been set to UK.

Puroresu_kid · Nov 24, 2020

Peckmore said:
I posted this in another thread, but you can buy from any region on the same account without switching your account region as long as you have a valid payment method. And all games are region free (including BC titles).

The easiest way is just to buy credit for a region (from places like CD Keys, Amazon, etc.), then add it to your account at the point of purchasing a title from that region.

I can personally confirm this works, as I'm in the UK and have bought titles from the US store several times, all on the same account, and my region has always been set to UK.

Is that via pc or can you access a different region store straight from the xbox without switching account region?

DJwest · Nov 24, 2020

Puroresu_kid said:
Is that via pc or can you access a different region store straight from the xbox without switching account region?

I'd like to know that as well because the store will default to your region

Peckmore · Nov 24, 2020

Puroresu_kid said:
Is that via pc or can you access a different region store straight from the xbox without switching account region?

DJwest said:
I'd like to know that as well because the store will default to your region

Via the web store. Go to a game, switch the country code in the URL from (as an example) "en-gb" to "en-us", and it should appear in USD. It might ask if you wish to visit the game on your regional store, but choose "Stay in this region", then click buy. When it pops up asking for a payment method you can choose the option to redeem a code and redeem your voucher for USD.

I will add that I've been doing this for a long time now (since not long after the Xbox One launched), so it's been a long time since I set this up, but you may have to change your account (on the website) just once, so that you can add a US address to your account. But then you can switch back to UK. This doesn't affect your console region (as far as I remember). And make sure to choose an address for somewhere like Oregon, where there is no sales tax! :)

Deleted member 11008 · Nov 24, 2020

OP can you create a new account instead? I'm not sure if on Xbox the store is locked behind the console configuration or the account.

sam777 · Nov 24, 2020

Puroresu_kid said:
I thought xbox was like switch where DLC is region free

It is

sam777 · Nov 24, 2020

OP it is quite easy buying codes from other regions I do it all the time as we get shafted in the UK. I got Dirt 5 for like £20 for example

Puroresu_kid · Nov 24, 2020

sam777 said:
It is

Nobody managed to answer this on the PS5 thread but do you know if the DLC is now region free or still locked like PS4?

Puroresu_kid · Nov 24, 2020

sam777 said:
OP it is quite easy buying codes from other regions I do it all the time as we get shafted in the UK. I got Dirt 5 for like £20 for example

Sweet. Got a series x ordered so feeling that.

sam777 · Nov 24, 2020

Puroresu_kid said:
Nobody managed to answer this on the PS5 thread but do you know if the DLC is now region free or still locked like PS4?

On Series X it's all region free. Don't know about the PlayStation side of things

SP. · Nov 24, 2020

Will your ping in multiplayer games go to trash or does the matchmaking use your local location instead of your region?

sam777 · Nov 24, 2020

Puroresu_kid said:
Sweet. Got a series x ordered so feeling that.

When you get it just pm me, if you need a bit of help, which you might initially

sam777 · Nov 24, 2020

SwordStruck said:
Will your ping in multiplayer games go to trash or does the matchmaking use your local location instead of your region?

Local location

Peckmore · Nov 24, 2020

asagami_ said:
OP can you create a new account instead? I'm not sure if on Xbox the store is locked behind the console configuration or the account.

There's definitely no need to create a new account. You can 100% do it all on one account, and your Microsoft account will even list all of the currencies you have on your account, regardless of region.

DJwest · Nov 24, 2020

Peckmore said:
There's definitely no need to create a new account. You can 100% do it all on one account, and your Microsoft account will even list all of the currencies you have on your account, regardless of region.

Amazing. Thanks!

Deleted member 46948 · Nov 24, 2020

Peckmore said:
Via the web store. Go to a game, switch the country code in the URL from (as an example) "en-gb" to "en-us", and it should appear in USD. It might ask if you wish to visit the game on your regional store, but choose "Stay in this region", then click buy. When it pops up asking for a payment method you can choose the option to redeem a code and redeem your voucher for USD.

I will add that I've been doing this for a long time now (since not long after the Xbox One launched), so it's been a long time since I set this up, but you may have to change your account (on the website) just once, so that you can add a US address to your account. But then you can switch back to UK. This doesn't affect your console region (as far as I remember). And make sure to choose an address for somewhere like Oregon, where there is no sales tax! :)

Oh, for an European, this is a really good life hack.
Thank you!

Tunesmith · Nov 24, 2020

may be relevant for some: https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help...count/update-microsoft-account-country-region

you don't need to do this if you're just looking to redeem codes from other regions.

Syriel · Nov 24, 2020

DJwest said:
Thanks for the tip!
I think so too, I just want confirmation.
Wow. I need to check if my 360 games are region locked, I didn't think of that. Theoretically they should work again if I switch back to UK right?

Account region not matching console region was only an issue on the 360.

BC 360 games on the One and Series consoles run in their own console wrapper, so the game region is never exposed.

There are some games that are NOT available in a given region, and they'll disappear from your Ready to Install list if you switch the store region on the console, but if you already have them installed, they stay installed. If you switch the store region back, they reappear in Ready to Install.

Puroresu_kid said:
Is that via pc or can you access a different region store straight from the xbox without switching account region?

DJwest said:
I'd like to know that as well because the store will default to your region

You can switch the store region on your One or Series console at any time. It's an option in Settings. Just required a reboot.

asagami_ said:
OP can you create a new account instead? I'm not sure if on Xbox the store is locked behind the console configuration or the account.

No need for a new account.

Puroresu_kid · Nov 24, 2020

Syriel said:
Account region not matching console region was only an issue on the 360.

BC 360 games on the One and Series consoles run in their own console wrapper, so the game region is never exposed.

There are some games that are NOT available in a given region, and they'll disappear from your Ready to Install list if you switch the store region on the console, but if you already have them installed, they stay installed. If you switch the store region back, they reappear in Ready to Install.

You can switch the store region on your One or Series console at any time. It's an option in Settings. Just required a reboot.

No need for a new account.

That's dope

Thinking of permanently switching regions on my xbox. Any unintended/adverse consequences I should know of?

DJwest

falconhoof17

Puroresu_kid

Starlatine

533.489 paid youtubers cant be wrong

DJwest

Matty H

Starlatine

533.489 paid youtubers cant be wrong

DJwest

Peckmore

Puroresu_kid

DJwest

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sam777

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sam777

SP.

sam777

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