Using a VPN to get cheaper Xbox game prices may get you banned

Some Xbox users are finding themselves in hot water for using VPNs to snag games at cheaper prices from different regions. Microsoft doesn’t explicitly ban VPN use, but it seems they’re cracking down on folks exploiting regional pricing differences.

So, what’s the deal? Well, some gamers have been using VPNs to switch their Xbox Store region to countries where games are often cheaper. This trick has landed a few users with indefinite bans. As reported by Game Rant, one user, Rho_tter, shared on X that their account was banned for this very reason.

They even posted a screenshot of the email from Xbox support, which mentioned exploiting extreme regional pricing differences as the cause.

Interestingly, the Xbox Community Standards don’t explicitly mention VPN use or regional pricing exploitation, which has left some users frustrated, accusing Microsoft of taking this new rule from its hat. Another user, Alex_Gezonex, faced a similar ban but got their account reinstated after a few days.

The situation has sparked a debate on social media, with many calling for Microsoft to clarify its VPN policies. While using VPNs for privacy and avoiding ISP throttling is common, exploiting them for cheaper game purchases is a gray area that Microsoft seems to be addressing more strictly now.

Xbox-Now also investigated this issue inviting users to notify them about other instances of this problem and nobody else came forward. This makes us believe that we might be facing an isolated incident.

Nevertheless, if you’re thinking about using a VPN to buy games from other regions, you might want to think twice. It could save you some cash, but you risk getting banned from the Xbox platform.