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On Xbox Live Region Locking

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Regionlock

Some of you using UK or US Xbox live accounts were horrified to discover that even though south Africa is now an officially recognised region, there still appears to be region locking of sorts. this has become especially apparent for purchasers of the Call of Duty : Black Ops Hardened and Prestige editions, which feature a token to download extra Zombie maps.

Instead of instantly downloading, users have been greeted by a disheartening “This item is not available in your region” message. Bummer! time to whip out that VPN again? For now, yes – but there’s a light at the end of this tunnel.

While some users are reporting encountering region locking, others have been saying that previously restricted content is now available – regardless of region the account is tied to. I’ve been checking, and testing – and the following seems to be in effect :

  • If the restricted (18+) content is available in both stores [originating account (US or UK) and ZA store], then the content will download. Hooray!
  • If the restricted (18+) content is available in only the originating account (US or UK) store, then the content will still be blocked, and you’ll received the “unavailable in your region” message. To download this content NOW, you’ll need to employ a VPN – ensuring that the VPN supplies an IP Address that matches your account’s region. Once that content is available on the ZA store though, you should be able to download it regardless of your account.

The only previously restricted content that is confirmed to be available now is Crackdown 2’s DLC – but as more is added to the marketplace, more restricted content will become available.

We’re still trying to find out if the Zombies maps are available to ZA Xbox Live accounts, and will let you know once we do.

Last Updated: November 10, 2010

17 Comments

  1. AC!D

    November 10, 2010 at 13:36

    SOB!!!! thats the only reason i migrated. WOW what a shit service Xbox Live is!!!

    Reply

  2. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 10, 2010 at 13:59

    Oh man, I KNEW this was going to happen. I guess all I can say is.. “Fuck you once again Microsoft”. As per usual, you fail to disappoint to disappoint 😀 :whistle: :za:

    Reply

  3. Milesh Bhana

    November 10, 2010 at 14:08

    if you match this article with the empty marketplace one, it sounds like they went live before they were done rolling everything out.

    They should’ve just delayed the launch date and got everything done properly.

    Reply

  4. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 10, 2010 at 14:11

    I seem to fail at writing… :O cough!

    Erratum (and let’s keep it from becoming redundant): “As per usual, you succeed in disappointment” 😀

    Read more: http://www.lazygamer.co/on-xbox-live-region-locking/#ixzz14sfiumOY

    Reply

  5. Kale

    November 10, 2010 at 14:15

    Thanks LazyG for keeping us up to date on the new release.

    It’s a bit disheartening I know, but lets give it time guys. We have been asking for Live and it’s still early days.

    Reply

  6. Uberutang

    November 10, 2010 at 14:18

    4 Years since they promised it is not early days.

    Reply

  7. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 10, 2010 at 14:22

    I don’t think that would have helped, because the few Irish okes I know have been complaining about their live since it launched (They’re in the same boat as the rest of the EU in that they’re paying more than the yanks, yet get much less features… and by much less I mean even LESS than the English). I guess we’re one or two steps down from the EU (and below India), in that we’re really getting shafted by features.

    I SERIOUSLY doubt that we’ll see a vast improvement in the next few months, or any drastic new additions (because the rest of the world has been asking for the same for years). I reckon we’ll get a few demos, a couple of arcade games (MAYBE some video, if Zune ever goes live on our end) and obviously system updates. I doubt we’ll get access to the vast collection of dlc, even though most of us would gladly pay for it.

    I think Microsoft has just thrown us onto a table, spread our legs and decided to go to town… :unsure:

    But at least 12 months from now, those that have fallen for this ruse, will be able to remigrate back to the UK servers, and hopefully their DLC licenses will still be there.

    Reply

  8. spl0it

    November 10, 2010 at 14:23

    I heard that Microsoft kicks dogs and steals from old people.

    Reply

  9. Kale

    November 10, 2010 at 14:24

    Your right. They should cancel the whole service and not even bother. Why waste our time. Day one release and we don’t have everything.
    When the next round of consoles come around we can start from square 1, why even bother then.

    Reply

  10. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 10, 2010 at 14:41

    Bloody AGENTS!

    I hear they sell body parts too.

    Reply

  11. AC!D

    November 10, 2010 at 15:23

    Nah they pay third parties to do it for them :biggrin: anbd merket it as a win 🙂

    Reply

  12. AC!D

    November 10, 2010 at 15:25

    Nah they pay third parties to do it for them :biggrin: and then market it as a win 🙂

    Reply

  13. Steve Hofmeyr

    November 10, 2010 at 16:26

    The only think I was looking forward to was local matchmaking. In other words, if I look for a random game, it will connect me to a local game. Will it work like this? If it doesn’t, then there is no reason to migrate.

    Reply

  14. Steve Hofmeyr

    November 10, 2010 at 16:43

    *thing (oops)

    Reply

  15. GoldenSilver

    November 10, 2010 at 21:01

    Sorry to flame bait but how is this an improvement on the “Dieing” PC gaming? Local servers of the popular shooters, DLC that works no matter where you from, Steam for a Massive list of indie and casual games…. Xbox jumping through hoops to get some form of a perk while Microsoft decides if we worthy for they’re “Mighty” attention. :sideways: :silly:

    Reply

  16. lans

    November 10, 2010 at 21:21

    @Golden Silver I can’t believe im so priveleged to see a relic of the gaming world, a pc fanboy, I did not know you guys still existed!

    Is overclocking still the in-thing?
    Or is it piracy of indie games or any games?
    Hows the DRM?
    DLC that works no matter what? Do you know the Zombie Maps for Blackops are not working on steam currently.

    At least something will happen, unlike the pc market where your last saviour is steam.

    PC fanboy = DINOSAUR!

    Reply

  17. GoldenSilver

    November 13, 2010 at 20:23

    Overcklocking only for the hard core techies since decent hardware are very affordable these days

    Piracy is up to each user, my plants vs Zombies is working just fine and sounds like Console user will become very familiar with DRM in the near future as well since the Big Publishers see second hand trading in the same light. I am sure some one got the zombie maps to work some where.

    The biggest problem with PC gaming is that developers are struggling to support all the different makes and brands of pc hardware that is available and with new hardware constantly being pushed out I can see why it is more favorable to develop for a console that has a standard hardware configuration that is deprived from all the advancements of pc hardware thanks to PC gaming pushing the envelope with physics and graphics. Ironically making the next gen console dependent on the PC’s hardware advancements which is dependent on pc gaming… :angel:

    Reply

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