(How) Is it possible to get the full version of a game if I can only buy its low violence version?

While I don't exactly loathe the censorship called "low violence version" for some games steam sells (e.g. Fallout 3)

I do detest being forced to play games in a language different than the original one, which is usually English - especially since I often experience terrible mistranslations and not-so-great German speakers.

Portal, like most Valve games, I think, allows to set the language via properties -> language.

However, I recently bought Bioshock misreading the "only" in that shop message as "the German version is censored" and not as "this version is German only" since I don't have any language option. I already set Steam itself to English on installation, but to no avail.

Is it possible to play games in a language not made available via Steam?

Obviously I'm asking for legal ways and don't want to accidentally get a ban instead of a better speech...

Solution 1:

The problem of region restriction and low violence content has already been discussed here. Basically those restrictions are applied based on who purchases the game, not who plays it. You need somebody in a non restricted area to gift that game to you. Alternatively, you could spend your holidays in one such country and purchase the game from there with a local payment method (apparently you can buy prepaid cards from gas stations, or at least that's what Redditors say to people who have no credit card; YMMV).

Solution 2:

I got the uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2, by buying a non german key.

When I entered the key I was in Germany and it still activated the uncensored version.

You should search for a seller of those keys. The one I bought my keys from went unfortunately out of business.

Solution 3:

Theoretically it might be possible to copy the language data files from someone else and turning the updating function of, but this would be a last resort and I doubt Valve tolerates that - if it's not actually illegal to obtain a different language version that is not made available.

Solution 4:

There are some online shops that import the UK and US versions of games which are uncut. This is perfectly legal, but it comes with some annoying restrictions. They are not allowed to openly advertise certain games and they need to verify that you are over 18 and that nobody under 18 can get their hands onto the game when they send it.

This means you are usually required to send them a copy of your ID (Personalausweis) and you have to receive the package personally, they won't give it to someone else. This costs a bit more money which you can at some shops avoid by sending to a Packstation (where only you can access the package).

I have done this for Fallout 3 at OkaySoft, there are a few more shops that import games, but I haven't tried it since then. Fortunately most games I bought recently came with the english language also available.