The Apex Legends x Gundam event is finally live, but many players are finding that the loot box system makes it difficult to get specific weapon skins or stickers without spending a fortune on random packs. While the Legend skins are available for direct purchase, other cosmetics are traditionally locked behind the event’s random loot box mechanic. However, there is a legitimate workaround that allows you to bypass the gambling aspect and buy exactly what you want.
The Belgium regional settings trick
The reason many items are locked behind packs is due to regional monetization laws. Since 2018, Belgium has classified paid loot boxes as a form of illegal gambling under their National Gaming Act. The Belgian Gaming Commission ruled that paid, chance-based mechanics must be removed from games or face criminal prosecution.
As a result, major developers like EA have had to disable paid loot boxes in Belgium. Instead of packs, players in this region see the individual items listed with a direct price tag, allowing them to purchase weapon skins, stickers, and other cosmetics without the RNG.
Note: some users report their accounts getting suspended doing this trick or generally using a vpn to play, while it’s not 100%. Please understand that this may or may not get your account flagged.
How to change your region and purchase directly
To access this direct-purchase shop, you will need to update your account settings and match your network location to the region.
Update your EA account information
First, you need to tell the system you are located in the region where loot boxes are restricted:
- Visit the EA Account Information page.
- Locate the Regional Settings section.
- Click Edit and change your country/region to Belgium.
- Save your changes.
Use a VPN to match your location
The game client often checks your IP address to verify your location. To ensure the shop updates correctly, you will need to use a VPN set to a Belgium server. While we do not endorse or have sponsorships with these services, they are common options to get the job from point A to point B quickly:
3. Launch Apex Legends
Once your account is set to Belgium and your VPN is active, open the game. When you navigate to the Gundam Event Tab, you will notice that the “Event Packs” have been replaced with the option to buy the weapon skins and other cosmetics directly using Apex Coins.
This method is the most efficient way to complete your Gundam collection without the risk of pulling items you don’t want.
