How to Unlock Steam Games Early with a VPN in 2025

If you can’t wait for the next game on Steam to launch, I feel your pain.

Thankfully, it’s not that hard to unlock Steam games early and start playing if you know the right tricks, and that is where a quality VPN enters the picture.

With games like PubG and Counter-Strike, who can blame users for wanting to unlock Steam games early?

Since users on this platform come from differing time zones, it’s normal to have different game time releases. It’s also become common practice to release games in a staggered manner, which may force you to wait for the release of a new game.

Check out my tips on how using a VPN with your Steam account can give you game access before its release date in your location.

Key takeaways

1. Steam is the number one go-to gaming platform.
2. The release date for new games can vary by country.
3. A quality VPN can unlock Steam games early.
4. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for early access to certain games.

When do Steam games get released?

This past year, I discovered that the new game release time is typically 10 AM Pacific Standard Time, but certain games were released at midnight.

Over the past decade, I have found that most new game release times and dates were staggered, with game launch roll-outs on different days in Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

These staggered releases lead to frustrating waits for the latest game release. However, there is a way to unlock Stream games early.

Why you need a VPN to get past Steam geo-blocking

When you sign in to your Steam account, you are directed to the store that corresponds to your IP address. If you use a VPN connection, the IP address detected will match your VPN server’s location instead of your true location.

That means that by using a VPN, you can access time zones and regions where the release date for the game you want is earlier.

What are the best VPN servers to connect to Steam 

Here’s how to choose the best VPN servers to unlock Steam games early.

Most of the time, it is the best move to connect to an Australian or New Zealand VPN server, since in these time zones midnight an be 10, 12, or even 16 hours before midnight in other regions.

Once you have decided on the best country, just connect to a VPN server in that region, and you can unblock your game and start playing like normal.

How to choose the right VPN for Steam

If you want to choose the right VPN to unlock Steam games early, here are the features to keep in mind:

• Servers. Make sure the VPN has servers in countries with an earlier game release date, like New Zealand, where a midnight release can be hours earlier than other countries.
• Speed. If you want to enjoy smooth, lag-free gaming, choose a fast VPN with unlimited bandwidth.
• Multiple users. It is a good idea to subscribe to a VPN that lets you connect multiple devices to one account, so your whole household can benefit from the VPN at the same time.
• Good Internet protection. Protect yourself from cyber criminals and DDoS attacks by getting a VPN that encrypts your Internet data, offers a Kill Switch, protects you from DNS leaks, and comes with a no-logs policy.
• Customer service. Choose a VPN that offers 24/7 live chat support so you can ask any questions you need, no matter what time of day.

3 best Steam VPNs to change location and unlock preloaded games early 

Here are the top 3 VPN services for Steam that will help users get their games on Steam early:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has everything I need to unlock Steam games early and game lag-free. I also find the VPN to be super user-friendly across all my devices, from my PC to my smart TV.

Features: I regularly use ExpressVPN’s advanced features like split tunneling and the password manager and I like the extra security I get from the ad blocker and malware protection. Plus, with 3,200+ VPN servers in 105 countries, I can access the latest game ahead of time.

Speed: ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested. My US download speed was 90.3 Mbps, which nearly matched my baseline speed of 94.3 Mbps.

Privacy and Security: I’m confident that with ExpressVPN’s strong security features including protection from DNS leaks, military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and an independently audited no-logs policy, I’ll be safe from DDoS attacks and other online threats.

Performance: I’ve found ExpressVPN’s fast and stable connections consistently support flawless gaming, browsing, streaming, torrenting, and dependable geo-spoofing, so I can unlock Steam games early!

Streaming: ExpressVPN is my go-to for streaming since it consistently bypasses the tough geo-blocks on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more and the unlimited bandwidth means I can download as much content as I want!

Compatibility: One of the best things about Express is how simple it is to use. The apps are intuitive and work seamlessly on Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, and iOS devices. I’ve used it with my PC, gaming consoles, smart TVs, mobile devices, laptops, and routers.

Pricing: The 12-month plan is $6.67/month, including 3 months free and 8 simultaneous connections on each account. The 24/7 live chat support and 30-day money-back guarantee let you try out the VPN risk-free.

2. NordVPN

I’m not surprised that NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services. It offers tons of advanced features, fast connections, strong security features, and a large server network all at an affordable price.

Features: With NordVPN’s 7,100+ servers in 118 countries, I can enjoy Steam libraries worldwide with the click of a button. It also has lots of bonus features like Threat Protection Pro, Meshnet, dedicated IP, and a Dark Web Monitor.

Speed: I reached an impressive download speed of 94 Mbps on a nearby server compared to my 96 Mbps baseline.

Privacy and Security: When you use NordVPN to connect to the Internet, you’re protected by military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, and IP & DNS leak protection, keeping you safe from hackers and DDoS attacks while you game as normal.

Performance: Not only can I unlock Steam games early, but I can also count on smooth, reliable performance for gaming, streaming, browsing, and torrenting using NordVPN.

Streaming: With NordVPN, I can unblock geo-restricted content on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and other popular platforms.

Compatibility: NordVPN’s intuitive apps work on mobile devices, laptops, PCs, game consoles, and more, with support for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Pricing: The 24-month basic plan costs $3.39/month, including 4 months free. Each account allows for 10 simultaneous connections. You can try it out risk-free thanks to the 24/7 live chat support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark

I recommend Surfshark for anyone watching their wallet. It’s affordable, secure, reliable, and allows for unlimited simultaneous connections on each account.

Features: Surfshark offers a surprising number of extras for a budget service, including a data breach monitor, an ad blocker, malware protection, and split tunneling. It has a solid network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries.

Speed: During testing, I clocked a download of 75 Mbps locally against my 94 Mbps baseline.

Privacy and Security: Surfshark ensures a secure, private connection while you game with a zero-log policy, automatic kill switch, military-grade encryption, and leak protection.

Performance: Surfshark generally performs well for gaming, streaming, and torrenting, although you may experience a slowdown during peak hours. If that happens, the 24/7 support team can help you find a faster server.

Streaming: Not only can Surfshark unlock Steam games early, I can also enjoy geo-blocked content on streaming sites worldwide on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Compatibility: The Surfshark apps are user-friendly and compatible with mobile devices, laptops, desktops, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and more.

Price: For $1.99/month, you can get the 2-year starter package, which comes with 4 free months, and unlimited devices. Every account comes with 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try out the VPN risk-free.

Using Steam Preload Unlocker 

Before choosing a VPN to unlock Steam games early, first, check the latest news to verify which Steam regions are expected to get your game the earliest. Many times, the region in which the game was developed will get the game released first so that the team of developers can troubleshoot any issues that arise when it is launched on Steam.

Most commonly, Steam games are launched at midnight. In these cases, the earlier time zones will get it first. New Zealand and Australia are the best countries to be in (or connect to) if you want to start playing your game, since they are hours ahead of the United States, Europe, or Canada.

To get a Steam preload unlocker, check out these easy steps:

1. Pre-order the Steam game you want.
2. Preload your game.
3. Force close Steam.
4. Connect to your VPN server in New Zealand or Australia.
5. Launch Steam again after you are connected to your VPN server.
6. Download the files or updates for the game.
7. Press Play, and you’re set!

Make sure you do not get disconnected from the VPN while you are accessing Steam! After the game is officially launched in your real-time zone, you can disconnect your VPN if you want.

Can you get unbanned for changing the Steam region?

You can get around a permanent ban with a quality VPN.

A permanent ban, especially an undeserved one, is incredibly frustrating, by there is a way around it.

Steam blocks your account based on your IP address. A VPN gives you a new IP address so you can bypass your ban. Just connect to a VPN server, open a new account, and log in.

You’ll be able to play any game as normal. Keep in mind, to prevent cheating Steam only allows you to create a new account once every three months.

Important things to know before changing your Steam store country

Here are some things to keep in mind before you change your Steam store country:

• In order to prevent cheating, Steam only lets you change your country every three months.
• Most Steam regions require a payment method from that country.
• You will need a billing address in your selected region. It does not need to match your payment billing address.
• Your region will change after you complete a purchase.

Once you launch your game, you can disconnect from your VPN.

Upcoming Steam releases in November 2024

Here are some of the highly anticipated new releases!

• Yawnoc
• 49 Keys
• Deathless Death
• Divine Dynamo Flamefrit
• Mind Over Magnet
• Mindbug Online
• Scarlet Defiance: The Wall Between Us

FAQ

How can I get a Steam game early?

You can unlock Steam games early by connecting to a VPN server in one of the regions that has an earlier release time than your Steam region.

When you’re connected to one of these VPN servers, you will find that your game is available as if you were actually in that server region.

Can you use a Virtual Private Network for early access to games on Steam?

Yes. A VPN can connect you to Steam in the regions that offer first dibs on these games.

How do you change Steam location? 

To change your Steam location, connect to one of your VPN’s servers in a different country, which will conceal your true IP address and replace it with an IP corresponding to your chosen VPN server’s country so you will have full access to that country’s Steam library.

Where does Steam store preload data?

Steam stores preload data in the depot cache. There are 24GB of available data in this folder if you do not currently have different apps or games preloaded to your Steam account.

Conclusion

I want to get games on Steam as soon as humanly possible. Using a VPN for Steam, I have free reign on Steam regions all over the world so I can unlock Steam games early.

My favorite VPN to unlock Steam games early is ExpressVPN. It’s reliable, fast, secure, and user-friendly!