Release dates on games can be a strict matter at times due to regional time differences, and one Dutch streamer got to learn this the hard way after getting hit with a 48-hour ban for streamingForspoken"early," despite being available in some parts of the world. It is the latest in a swath of bans to hit multiple streamers to start off 2023, including high-profile streamers such asAdin Rossand Mizkif. However, the streamer in question here has been quick to push back on their ban and has already put in a request for Twitch to lift the ban early.Forspokenis the new action RPG from Japanese developer Luminous Productions, a subsidiary of Square Enix formerly known as Square Enix Business Division 2 which served as lead developer onFinal Fantasy 15. Its latest game follows a young woman, Frey, transported from New York City to Athia, a fantastical world living under the tyrannical rule of a society known as the Tantas. Frey must use her newly acquired magic powers to navigate the dangers of Athia, free its people from the Tantas, and ultimately find her way back home.RELATED:Forspoken’s Final Boss Leaks OnlineWhile the game, as of this writing, has not been released in the US, it is already available in some markets in the Southern Hemisphere, a fact Dutch Twitch streamer GTAMen took advantage of to get a copy of the game early. The streamer, who typically streamsGrand Theft Auto Onlinerole-play, subsequently went live and was able to stream some of the game before Twitch stepped in and handed down a 48-hour ban for streaming the game early. GTAMen made his frustration with the situation known in a tweet sharing the email notification he received for the ban and the reason it was handed down.
GTAMen’s ban was met with largely sympathetic responses on Twitter from users who felt Twitch was “in the wrong” for handing down the ban. A common criticism between GTAMen and other users was the notion Twitch ignored the differences in time zones, with GTAMen arguing he purchased the game legally after its release in some parts of the world. Some other users also pointed out that if GTAMen had been abigger Twitch streamer, such as xQc, he may not have been hit with a ban as they have also streamed games which released early in some parts of the world or as part of a pre-order bonus.
That said, the ban highlights a gray area for game releases which can be harder for a platform such as Twitch to navigate given how easy it can be to purchase games early. An example would be theuse of a VPN, which has become more popular in recent years as users are keen on keeping their personal and browsing data safer while also trying to get around region blocks to access content from overseas, such as shows or movies. It is not known if GTAMen used a VPN to help buy the game early, or if he used a different means of bypassing his region blocks, but it is something to keep in mind when pushing back on Twitch for these types of bans.
Forspokenreleases Jul 05, 2025, on PC and PlayStation 5.
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