Destiny 2 Blocked in CIS Countries, Bungie Cites “Restricted by Law” as Steam Issues Refunds

Destiny 2 players in several Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and beyond, have been unable to access the game since mid-September 2025. What first appeared as routine login errors has now escalated into a full regional block, with Bungie confirming that access is restricted “by law.”

What Happened With the TAPIR Error?

Around September 15, players began reporting persistent TAPIR error codes, a server-side message that usually pops up during maintenance or downtime. Under normal circumstances, this error clears once Bungie’s servers are back online. This time, however, the issue didn’t resolve itself.

By September 21, players across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox were completely locked out. No content was accessible, whether free-to-play missions or paid expansions like Edge of Fate and the Year of Prophecy Ultimate Edition. For many, this felt less like a temporary outage and more like a silent ban.

One frustrated player wrote, “Since the 17th of September, logging into the game is impossible due to the TAPIR error. None of the content I purchased is accessible, and I can’t do anything about it except to request a refund.”

Bungie’s Response: “Restricted by Law”

After a week of silence, Bungie finally addressed the issue in its forums and support channels on September 25. The official statement was short: “Destiny services are not available where access is restricted by law.”

No details were given about which specific law or regulation forced the change, nor why Destiny 2 was singled out while other online titles remain playable in those regions. The lack of transparency has only fueled player frustration.

It’s worth remembering that back in 2022, Bungie suspended all sales in Russia and Belarus in response to international sanctions but assured players they could continue playing content they had already purchased. This new block appears to contradict that earlier stance, leaving many fans confused about what changed.

Refunds

In the absence of clear communication from Bungie, Steam has started offering full refunds for Destiny 2 expansions, including the $99.99 Year of Prophecy Ultimate Edition. What’s unusual here is that refunds are being granted well outside Steam’s standard two-hour/14-day policy, with some players receiving refunds after logging dozens of hours.

One player’s refund request stated, “This appears to be a shadowban of all CIS-based accounts, without any notice or explanation. None of the content I purchased is accessible.” Steam Support approved the refund within hours.

On PlayStation and Xbox, however, no equivalent refund process has been confirmed so far.

Which Countries Are Affected?

Reports confirm that players in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan are impacted. Players in Iran and Afghanistan have also reported identical TAPIR lockouts, suggesting the restriction may extend beyond the CIS region.

Interestingly, some fans point out that Destiny 1 remains playable in these countries, which raises further doubts about Bungie’s “law” explanation.

As of September 28, 2025, Bungie has not provided any new statement beyond the one-line response. No timeline for resolution, compensation plan, or official list of blocked regions has been published. For now, the only practical recourse is requesting a refund.

Sources: TheGamePost, r/DestinyTheGame