Does anyone here use these "to good to be true" websites that sell cheap game keys?

I think CD Keys sells grey market keys so while the publishers don't like it, they aren't selling anything dodgy. Some of the other sites knowingly sell stolen keys.

This story was pretty recent :

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020...n-game-key-sales-pays-40000-to-factorio-devs/

Ah yes, Jim Sterling covered this quite well.


Avoid G2A dont like their practices.

CD Keys probably one of the most reputable ones, also find MMOGA is good too.
Allkeyshop best keys comparison site which also often has discount codes too.

Their all as bad as each other, doesn't stop people using them because their often cheaper than the genuine resellers.
 
Their all as bad as each other, doesn't stop people using them because their often cheaper than the genuine resellers.

CDKeys aren't; they legitimately source their keys internationally and resell them at a cost bypassing the ripoff fee you pay for living in a country where people can afford to pay £50 for a £25 game.

G2A and Kinguin, on the other hand, have been known to buy keys from money launderers. Don't even visit their site, let alone give them your credit card details.
 
CDKeys aren't; they legitimately source their keys internationally and resell them at a cost bypassing the ripoff fee you pay for living in a country.

Even so, that's down right unethical. Not that I'm personally bothered, but there's a reason they aren't an authorised reseller like HumbleBundle etc.
 
I've used quite most of them over the years, and for me there's two different kinds. There's companies selling keys, like cdkeys.com, that are dependable in my experience. Then there's resellers where other people offer keys for sale, like G2A, where it's like eBay - it's as reliable as the person you're buying from through the site.

I've got no problem using the former, but I'm always a bit reluctant to use the latter. Few times it's been a choice of G2A or Gamivo or pay full price, so I've gone for a reseller and it's worked each time for me but not sure I'd be confident enough to suggest it to others.
 
Even so, that's down right unethical. Not that I'm personally bothered, but there's a reason they aren't an authorised reseller like HumbleBundle etc.

What? No it isn't. Unethical is when you charge the maximum that the market will bear. Remember - these software companies are not selling the games for less in poorer countries out of the goodness of their hearts. They're doing so because selling 1000 games at £30 is better than selling 0 games at £50.
 
I have seen this one pop up a few times but never purchased from it because I hadn't heard of it before.
Will give it a go in future now that I know others have used it before without issue.
Be wary of the topup codes on here (psn/xbox) as they look cheap but often promo credit and expire very quickly. I often see £100 psn for £70 and stuff.
 
What? No it isn't. Unethical is when you charge the maximum that the market will bear. Remember - these software companies are not selling the games for less in poorer countries out of the goodness of their hearts. They're doing so because selling 1000 games at £30 is better than selling 0 games at £50.

If buying keys from weak economic countries to resell at profit in stronger countries isn't unethical then I question everything you believe in.

It isn't unethical.

See above.
 
If buying keys from weak economic countries to resell at profit in stronger countries isn't unethical then I question everything you believe in.



See above.
It isn't unethical. You're seemingly suggesting that people are losing out on being able to buy games because us rich westerners are buying them all up and depriving them of it.
 
You're seemingly suggesting that people are losing out on being able to buy games because us rich westerners are buying them all up and depriving them of it.

Considering your beliefs on this subject I wouldn't be surprised if you actually believe this nonsense.
 
I've used Bundlestars (now Fanatical), CDKeys, CJS-CDkeys, GameBillet, GamersGate, GamesPlanet, HumbleBundle, IndieGala, Play-Asia and WinGameStore.

Some I've used very scarcely (like GameBillet only once) and some very often (like CDKeys most out of all these).

Apart from one instance (CJS-CDkeys where they sent me a used key for an old game), I've never had any problems.

People say that their cheap prices come from region-specific keys but they they don't sell region-specific keys only.

a lot of their keys are enabled for worldwide activation so I suppose there may be publisher consent somewhere.

Never used ebay-type sites for keys (i.e. G2A and their likes).
 
If buying keys from weak economic countries to resell at profit in stronger countries isn't unethical then I question everything you believe in.

What Drizmod said. But I'll go further: buying keys from a weak economic country is actually good for that country, because the sale is taxed there and thus adds to their economy.
 
What Drizmod said. But I'll go further: buying keys from a weak economic country is actually good for that country, because the sale is taxed there and thus adds to their economy.

they work in a grey area and tax is one area where questions are often raised.

Yet they aren’t an authorised reseller like many others, I wonder why.
 
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