I live in Europe, Lithuania, and Skyrim doesn't show up in the steam store and I can't buy it, which means it's blocked in Lithuania.
Lets say I were to fly to US, purchase a physical copy of Skyrim, fly back to Lithuania, and activate the physical copy, purchased in US, on steam.
Would I be able to play Skyrim?

Also, what if someone, from US, gifted me a digital copy of Skyrim?

I already have Skyrim pre-ordered from US.
I waited for Skyrim for years, and I don't want to end up not being able to play it at all, while I have the physical and original copy of Skyrim in my hands.

This is about PC version.

EDIT: Just purchased Skyrim using TF2 items on steam. I will post what happens on 11/11/11.
Excited.
Skyrim currently appears in my Steam Games Library. Everything looks fine.

EDIT: UPDATE: Skyrim is pre-loading!
Looks like everything will work out!

I don't know if this is allowed but I'm bumping this thread because it has gone off the front page and I need an answer.

You should buy it from europe if your not sure that can you play US copy...

Buying it from Europe is ridiculously overpriced, and that wasn't the point. The point was if I can activate a physical copy of Skyrim in a country that has Skyrim blocked on steam. My only option is to purchase it in US anyways.
EDIT: Stop asking for me to buy it in Europe because it's much closer. I'm not asking where it's closer to buy.

I would have said do this too. Plenty of countries much closer to you then the US where the game will be released and have dedicated steam servers. Or perhaps try http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/ to get a better answer. Or even try email steam support.

Depends on how restrictive this region block is and as far as I know, there's no official statement to this matter
Maybe the steam support knows more.

I don't think would be able to play it.

I believe a VPN based in USA might allow you to buy it.

I pre ordered it from Finland for 34.40 € and its at this moment 48.29 US $

Nobody knows that can you activate US copy in europe so you should stop asking that can you do it. You could as it from Pete tho, but im not sure if even he knows about this.

Unless things have changed, if it's not available where you are through Steam you cannot activate a different regions version via Steam without modifying Steam files, though that isn't a topic for discussion.

well even if you do get a hard copy from the US im pretty sure you wont be able to activate it via steam. One of the primary reasons for region block is so people cant buy a game from other regions to save a little money. Its bad for your own economy.

Did Bethesda say anything official on this matter?

What about from the UK?
Also is Skyrim visible in the Steam store in other regions already? Cause when I try to look it up on the website, I come up with nothing.

The only official answer you can get is from Bethesda. You can contact them http://www.gamesas.com/eng/contact.php. Also possibly try PMing GStaff or Nick Breckon, our Community Managers.

Until you get an official answer, I would strongly advise not to buy it elsewhere and try to activate it in a region-blocked country. As has been noted time and time again, there is no difference between getting a physical disc or digital-only from Steam. If Steam is already noticing you are in a region-blocked zone when you try to buy, then it is quite likely the same thing will happen when you activate and you will get http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Steam_regional_limitation.PNG.

Someone here noted that they did get a response from Bethesda customer support that region (b)locking is in effect, but I didn't see any corroborating evidence; just the statement.

So, if I were to buy Skyrim, lets say from the UK, and activate it in Europe, Lithuania, in which Skyrim is blocked, I'd be allowed to play it?
But if I bought it in US, and activates it in Europe, Lithuania, in which Skyrim is blocked, I would probably wouldn't be able to play it?

So its totally blocked in that country? Then you wont be able to play it anyway. Well not without..eh something were not allowed to talk about in these forums.

if its a physical copy it will have localized language files (english)
i dont know if you can activate it but you should...

if its a digital key from an english speaking country (UK) then in theory it should point you to the english version of the game.

Right, but the thing is I don't wanna do that, I don't want to have to cancel my pre-order. This game is actually one of my first singleplayer games I want to actually purchase and pay for.
But if I have no choice...
And are you just saying "totally blocked" or there is a level of blockage?

I doubt it's blocked. More likely is you don't have a dedicated region. According to Steam you will be able to choose the closest region to where you are and activate through that. The UK version is your best bet and lucky you it's also the cheapest one.

Well depends if Bethesda have decided to not release it in Lithuania or it has been blocked due to strict laws on video game violence and legal issues you country may have.

You gave me hope and a nice warm feeling.
How can I find out if it's actually blocked or just doesn't have a dedicated region?
Is there a difference between a UK and US physical copies?

No. I've just checked. XBox and PS3 versions are available for pre-order as retail boxes and PC version as a steam-key pre-order. Here's the link for the http://www.n-sistemos.lt/psgames/page3a.html.

Hmm then theoretically a European version of the game (UK Included) should be ok. But still its risky without having a definite answer from Bethesda.

Best advise is still

Wrong. PC version is available directly from Steam, via Steam-Key through other online vendors, and available in Retail Boxes (The 150$ PC Collectors Edition comes to mind).

I emailed Bethesda, contacted Steam Support, posted my problem on Steam forums and here.
When I get answers I will post them into this thread.