This guide is for a few kinds of readers: people in Taiwan wondering why Steam shows them prices in New Taiwan dollars, anyone about to study or work abroad (or returning home) who needs to understand what happens to their store region, and players who've read that "buying through another region is cheaper" and want to know the catch. You'll learn how Steam decides your store region, the legitimate way to change it, why VPN region-hopping is a problem, and what region-restricted games actually are.
One caveat up front: store regions are governed by Steam's own policies, which can change. This article explains the general principles; check Steam's official support pages for the current rules.
What a Steam Store Region Is
Every Steam account has a store country. It determines what you see in the store, which currency prices are shown in, which payment methods are offered, and whether certain games can be bought at all. You can find your current store country on the "Account Details" page. Accounts used in Taiwan normally show Taiwan.
How Steam decides your region
Steam bases the store region mainly on where you actually are, looking at things like your network location and the country of the payment method you use. Your location when you create the account sets the starting region. To change it later, you generally need to make a purchase while physically in the new country, using a payment method from that country.
In other words, the store region isn't a dropdown you can switch freely. It's Steam's judgement of where you are and where your money comes from.
Why Taiwan Prices Are in NT Dollars
Steam supports many regional currencies. Developers and publishers set a price for each currency, and Steam offers recommended regional pricing as a reference. The Taiwan store shows prices in New Taiwan dollars, which means you're seeing the price the publisher set for that market, not a live exchange-rate conversion.
What that means in practice:
- Regional price gaps aren't consistent. Some games are relatively cheaper in Taiwan than elsewhere and some are more expensive, depending on each publisher's pricing.
- Paying in local currency is more predictable. With a locally issued payment method you know what you'll pay, though your card issuer may still apply its own foreign transaction rules; check with your bank.
- Wallet balance is shown in NT dollars. Our wallet and gift card guide (Steam Wallet and Gift Cards) explains top-ups and codes.
For a comparison of payment methods available in Taiwan, see our payment overview (Paying on Steam from Taiwan).
Language support is a separate question
A Taiwan store region doesn't mean every game has Traditional Chinese. Look at the "Languages" box on each store page to see whether the interface, subtitles or audio support it. Some games offer only Simplified Chinese, and some have no Chinese at all.
Updating Your Region When You Really Move
If you've genuinely moved to another country for study, work or immigration and want the local store, the usual process looks like this:
- Make sure you're physically in the new country and connected through a local network.
- Have a payment method issued in that country, such as a local bank card or a locally available payment service.
- Add any item to your cart and go to checkout. If Steam detects a different location, checkout may prompt you to update your store country.
- Confirm the new country and complete the purchase with the local payment method.
- Check "Account Details" to confirm the store country changed.
Moving back works the same way: be in the country and buy something with a local payment method. Steam may also limit how often a region can change. If you can't update it, read Steam's support documentation or contact Support.
What happens after a change
- Games you already own stay in your library. A change of region generally doesn't remove them, though a few region-restricted titles may be affected.
- Wallet currency may be adjusted to the new region; check Steam's official support pages for how that is handled.
- Prices and payment options you see from then on follow the new region.
The Risks of Using a VPN to Buy in Another Region
A common tip online is to connect through a VPN to a cheaper country and buy games there. The problem is that Steam's terms require users not to hide or falsify their location with VPNs, proxies or similar tools to get around regional pricing or restrictions.
Possible consequences include:
- Cancelled or blocked purchases, since Steam compares your payment method with your location.
- Restrictions on the account, as accounts that violate the terms may face purchase limits or other penalties, potentially affecting the whole account.
- Risking years of purchases to save a little on one game, which rarely makes sense.
Unknown free VPN services also carry their own security risks, routing your traffic through servers you have no reason to trust. Players who've been at this since the DOS days tend to agree: an account and its save files are worth far more than any single discount.
If you want lower prices, the dependable options are Steam's seasonal sales, wishlist discount notifications and free-to-keep giveaways.
How Region-Restricted Games Work
Some games come with region-related restrictions. Common forms include:
- Not sold in some regions, because of licensing, age-rating requirements or local law. The game may be hidden or unavailable in that store.
- Region-locked keys. Keys bought outside Steam may only activate or play in certain regions; our article on key buying (Buying Game Keys) covers the risks.
- Cross-region gift limits. When prices differ significantly between two regions, a gift bought in one region may not be redeemable in the other.
- Different content versions, with some games offering different editions or language options by region.
If you can't find a game, first check whether it simply isn't offered in your region before assuming something is wrong with your account.
Things to Watch Out For
- Travelling isn't moving. Signing into Steam abroad on a short trip generally doesn't require a region change, and it's best not to make purchases with foreign payment methods while travelling.
- Don't buy "region-changed" accounts. Buying and selling Steam accounts violates the terms, and the original owner can often reclaim the account through Support.
- Check where a gift recipient lives before sending a gift abroad.
- Store region and interface language are different things. You can change Steam's language freely in settings without affecting your region.
- Official rules win. Regional and pricing policies change; check Steam's official support pages.
FAQ
Q: I'm in Taiwan but my store shows another country. What should I do?
First make sure no VPN or proxy is running, then refresh. If the account's store country really is wrong, completing a purchase in Taiwan with a Taiwanese payment method usually updates it. If not, contact Support at help.steampowered.com.
Q: I'm studying abroad. Should I switch back to Taiwan when I visit home?
Usually not for a short visit. Your store region should reflect where you actually live long term, and frequent changes may run into limits. Check Steam's official support pages for the current rules.
Q: Is it a problem to use a VPN just to look at other regions' prices?
Browsing isn't buying, but connecting to Steam through a VPN may make the account appear to be in a different region and cause payment or region issues. To compare prices, use a third-party price tracking site instead of changing your connection.
Q: Why can't I redeem a game a friend sent me from another country?
When prices differ significantly between regions, Steam may restrict cross-region gift redemption. Ask your friend to send a gift that can be redeemed in your region, or buy it in your own store.
Q: Will I lose my games if my region changes?
Generally no; games you own stay in your library. A small number of region-restricted titles might not be playable in the new region, so check the store pages of any important games before you change.