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What is a game key (CD key), and what do the labels on an offer mean?

A game key, also called a CD key or product key, is a code that adds a game to your account on one platform, such as Steam, Battle.net, Xbox or PlayStation. You redeem it once and the game stays in your library. Key shops sell these codes, often for less than the official store, so check the platform, the region and the edition before you buy.

Check these five things before you buy a key

  1. Platform: a key only works where it says. A Steam key goes into Steam, a Battle.net key into Battle.net, an Xbox key into your Microsoft account.
  2. Region: for an account in Germany or elsewhere in the EU, pick a key marked Global or Europe. Keys for other regions may not activate.
  3. Edition: Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate are separate keys. A very low price sometimes belongs to a DLC or an upgrade, not the game.
  4. Delivery: an activation key is a code you redeem yourself. A gift arrives in your account from the seller. An account offer gives you someone else's account, not the game on yours.
  5. Final price: some shops add a service or payment fee at checkout. Keyfinder marks it on every offer, so compare the total.

What the region labels mean

Global keys activate in every country. Europe or EU keys activate in the countries of the European Union. Keys for North America, Latin America, Asia or Russia are made for accounts in those regions and may refuse to activate on a European account, or activate but not start.

Keyfinder shows keys that activate in the EU first and lists other regions separately on each game page.

Key, gift or account

An activation key is the usual product: a code you type into the platform yourself. A Steam gift is a copy of the game the seller sends to your Steam account through Steam. An account offer means you get login details for an account someone else created, and the game is on that account, not yours.

Why keys are often cheaper than the official store

Key shops and their sellers buy keys during promotions, in bulk or in countries with lower prices and resell them at a small margin. Developers are critical of key marketplaces because they earn nothing on resales and the origin of single keys cannot always be traced.

That is why every Keyfinder game page shows the official Steam price next to the key offers. You decide what the saving is worth.

Is it safe to buy a key?

Most problems come from the wrong region, the wrong edition or a missed fee at checkout, not from fake shops. On marketplaces, many independent sellers offer the same game, so check the seller's rating, and pay with a method that has its own buyer protection where you can. Our shop checks explain who runs each shop and what it charges.

Compare prices

Questions

Is a CD key the same as a Steam key?

A Steam key is a CD key for Steam. The name CD key comes from the codes once printed on game boxes; today it means any code that adds a game to a platform account.

Can I use a key more than once?

No. A key is tied to the account it was first redeemed on. If a platform says the key is already used, contact the shop you bought it from.

Is a Steam gift the same as a Steam key?

Both end with the game in your Steam library. A key is a code you redeem yourself; a gift is sent to your account by the seller, so the seller needs your Steam profile or friend link.

Steps checked on 27 Oct 2026 against the official help: help.steampowered.com, help.steampowered.com

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What Is a Steam Key or CD Key? Regions and Gifts Explained | Keyfinder