Popular Steam key reseller CDKeys has a new name that has left gamers bewildered

While many rivals have a questionable reputation, gamers view CDKeys as one of the more legitimate key resellers. That’s why some customers are questioning a recent decision to rebrand the company. Buyers will still be able to purchase Steam games at a discount, but will have to get used to a new name. As announced on its blog, CDKeys will become known as Loaded in September.

According to the store, one of the reasons for the change is that CDs are an outdated medium. Still, when CDKeys opened in 2013, Valve’s Steam had already become a dominant digital marketplace. Even with physical media declining, buyers associated the retailer with discounted Steam keys. Few, if any, fans have since requested a new name to reflect an evolving industry.

The Loaded label is intended to reflect an expanded inventory. Console gamers can now find keys for digital PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo titles. Nevertheless, many followers believe the key reseller is sacrificing brand recognition. “Awful” and “dumb” are two common adjectives used to describe the decision on gaming forums and Reddit.

In the blog post, the store remarks that “CDKeys was the naughties”. Although the retailer has an impressive 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot, it operates in a gray area. The unauthorized reseller of Steam keys buys games in bulk, often from regions where software is less expensive. Customers appreciate the savings, but publishers prefer that gamers make purchases on Steam or the Epic Games Store.

Some gamers speculate that the Loaded moniker signals a new sponsorship deal. Although CDKeys has a high standing among similar services, it may not have the image that partners are looking for. The store could also want to move on from the “CDKeys” phrase, which certain forums and chat rooms block. In any case, these buyers suspect that more than just a name change may be coming to the site.