Steam, Epic or console: choosing the right platform for a key

The same game is often sold for several platforms: Steam and the Epic Games Store on PC, plus PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo on consoles. Each listing is a separate product. A key activates the game on exactly one platform, and it cannot be converted to another one after you buy it. Picking the right listing is the most important decision you make when buying a key, and it only takes a moment.

Read the platform badge

Every product card and product page in our catalogue shows the platform as a badge. The product title usually repeats it, for example a game followed by "Steam" or "Xbox". The badge is the one to trust. If you came to a product from a search result, glance at the badge before adding it to your cart.

The game keys page lets you filter by platform, and you can select more than one. If you play on both Steam and Xbox, tick both and the results show listings for either.

On PC: where is your library?

Most PC players already have a main launcher, and that is usually the one to buy for.

• Your existing library. Keeping games in one place means one launcher to update, one friends list, and one place to find everything.
• Save files and progress. Cloud saves usually stay within one platform. If you are continuing a series, buying the new entry on the same platform keeps things simple.
• Mods and community tools. Some games have mod support that works best, or only, through one store's version.
• Friends. Cross-play between PC stores varies by game. If you want to play with friends who already own a game, check which platform they use.

Some PC games also use a publisher's own launcher, such as Ubisoft Connect or the EA app, alongside Steam or Epic. Our guide to other PC launchers explains how that works.

On console: the console you own

Console keys are simpler: buy for the console family you own. A few details to check:

• Console generation. Some products are for one generation only, such as PS5 or PS4. Check the title and, if it is unclear, the game's own page on the console store.
• Xbox and Microsoft Store. Xbox keys are for consoles. Microsoft Store keys are usually for the Windows version. Some games include both versions under Microsoft's Play Anywhere programme, but not all do.
• Your account's country. Console stores are strongly tied to the account's country. See region-specific activation explained.

When the same game has several listings

You may find one game listed several times for the same platform. The listings usually differ by region, by edition, or both. Compare the activation notice next to the price, and the edition named in the title. Our guide to editions, DLC and season passes covers the second part.

System requirements

Our product pages do not list system requirements, because the information we receive from suppliers does not include them reliably and we would rather show nothing than show something wrong. Before buying a PC game, check its page on the platform's own store, where the publisher lists minimum and recommended hardware.

Still not sure?

Email [email protected] with the game you want and what you play on. We can point you to the right listing before you buy, which is much easier than sorting it out afterwards.