Deep Silver have cancelled a load of Metro Exodus Steam keys offered by key resellers after discovering, they are saying, the keys had been stolen from the manufacturing unit making boxed copies. Metro Exodus switched to Epic Games Store exclusivity late sufficient in growth that they produced bodily PC copies arrange for Steam, then swapped out the Steam keys for Epic keys and stuck Epic stickers over the Steam logo. Apparently some scoundrel scooped these deserted Steam keys to promote on, Deep Silver came upon, and so they’ve now cancelled these keys, eradicating the game from the Steam libraries of gamers who purchased them.
While Metro Exodus will not be at present offered on Steam, the game continues to be on Steam as a result of Deep Silver had offered pre-orders for a Steam launch. You can’t purchase it immediately anymore however if you happen to get a Steam key elsewhere, you possibly can activate that on Steam and nonetheless obtain updates and DLC. For individuals who’d somewhat use Steam than Epic’s consumer, or similar to rarities, apparently that’s price chancing the gray market.
While there are legit Metro Exodus Steam keys nonetheless floating round, purchased from authorised resellers, Deep Silver say the lot they cancelled are “illegal stolen keys.” They don’t say whether or not the keys had been bodily printed objects taken from the packing containers or swiped from a listing meant for the printers, however I suppose that distinction’s a matter for the authorities. Deep Silver explained on Thursday:
“These keys have been obtained illegally from the factory where physical key printing had taken place prior to the announcement of exclusivity with Epic Games, due to the criminal nature of these keys, all unlicensed keys have been deactivated and activation / download of Metro Exodus without the executable file is no longer possible. In addition, the software will be removed from the Steam library of any players using an unauthorised code. The keys being sold on this platform are stolen goods, and are therefore illegal.”
Which, yeah, is truthful sufficient. However you’re feeling concerning the change to Epic exclusivity, that does appear a reasonably clear case of somebody promoting stolen items. I suppose they might depart them energetic as a gesture of goodwill, however there should still be these keys out within the wild, nonetheless incomes cash for the thief. And they received’t offer you your a refund as a result of they by no means obtained it.
“If you have been affected we strongly recommend you contact the seller who sold you the unlicensed key and demand a refund,” Deep Silver say. Good luck with that.
This is partly why I don’t use unauthorised key reseller websites, I simply don’t know the place the keys got here from or why they’re low cost. Given that I’ve seen quite a lot of folks say that they had paid greater than the traditional £50 value to get Metro Exodus on Steam, or had been keen to, I’m guessing many of those weren’t even low cost.
Deep Silver did formally promote Metro Exodus Steam keys by the Humble and Razer shops, so if you happen to received a key there you’ll be fantastic. Elsewhere… effectively, you in all probability know if Deep Silver revoked your key.
Metro Exodus is because of get a Steam launch as soon as its one-year exclusivity interval expires, so a while after February 14th, 2020. What a disgrace that this sprawling, stinking exclusivity mess has overshadowed the launch of a game that’s fairly deece, as our Brendy’s Metro Exodus review particulars.
