Starting on September 9, Epic Games will require players residing in Australia to prove they are at least 18 years old before they can purchase or download any game that carries an R18+ rating on the Epic Games Store. This policy adjustment aligns the digital storefront with Australia’s online safety framework, which mandates that adult‑only content be restricted to users who have verified they are of legal age. Existing games already in a user’s library, as well as any titles that fall below the R18+ threshold, will remain accessible without additional checks. The age‑verification workflow will be handled through Epic’s pre‑existing Kids Web Services (KWS) infrastructure, which is being expanded to incorporate a suite of third‑party verification tools.
Players will be able to choose from several methods to confirm their age: a facial‑recognition selfie check powered by Yoti, a credit‑card validation service provided by Stripe, or a government‑issued identification verification offered by Veriff. Each of these options is designed to be quick, secure, and compliant with privacy standards. In addition to the three initial methods, Epic has announced that a fourth verification channel will be introduced later in September.
This new pathway will involve bank‑level authentication via ConnectID, giving users yet another convenient way to satisfy the age‑check requirement. Regardless of which method a player selects, Epic assures that any personal data collected will be used solely for the purpose of age confirmation and will be processed independently of the broader Kids Web Services ecosystem. The move comes as part of a broader industry trend toward stricter age‑gating for mature content in Australia.
Just a month earlier, Microsoft rolled out a similar age‑verification system for its Xbox and Microsoft Store platforms, requiring Australian users to verify their age before they can access R18+ games on both console and PC. This initiative was undertaken to comply with the Australian Classification Board’s regulations, which have become more rigorous in recent years. Microsoft’s verification framework was first piloted in the United Kingdom in July 2025, shortly after the Office of the eSafety Commissioner introduced the Online Safety Act (OSA). The UK rollout set a precedent for how large digital distributors can integrate age‑verification without significantly disrupting the user experience.
Following Microsoft’s lead, Valve has also introduced age‑verification procedures for Steam users in the UK, ensuring that mature titles are only available to those who have proven they meet the legal age requirement. Epic’s decision to adopt a multi‑option verification system reflects an understanding of the diverse preferences and privacy concerns of its global user base. By offering a selfie‑based check, a credit‑card alternative, and a government‑ID verification, the company aims to reduce friction for users while maintaining compliance with local legislation.
The upcoming ConnectID option will further broaden the toolkit, allowing users who prefer bank‑level verification to comply with minimal effort. From a technical perspective, the integration of these third‑party services into KWS required careful coordination to ensure that data flows remain isolated and that personal information is not shared across unrelated services. Epic has emphasized that the age‑verification data will be stored separately from gameplay data, purchase histories, and other user metrics.
This segregation helps mitigate privacy risks and aligns with best practices for data minimization. For developers and publishers, the new policy means that any game they release on the Epic Games Store with an R18+ rating will automatically be subject to the age‑gate for Australian customers. This could influence marketing strategies, as titles that target a broader audience may need to consider how the verification step could affect conversion rates.
However, Epic has indicated that the verification process is designed to be as seamless as possible, with most users completing the check in under a minute. The broader impact of these measures may also extend to consumer awareness about age‑appropriate gaming. By making the verification step visible and mandatory, Epic helps reinforce the notion that mature content should be consumed responsibly. Parents and guardians who monitor their household’s gaming habits will benefit from an additional layer of protection, knowing that the platform itself enforces age restrictions.
In summary, Epic Games’ upcoming age‑verification requirement for R18+ titles in Australia represents a significant step toward aligning the digital distribution landscape with national safety standards. Leveraging its Kids Web Services platform, the company offers multiple verification pathways—including selfie, credit‑card, government ID, and soon, bank verification—to accommodate user preferences while safeguarding privacy.
This initiative mirrors similar actions taken by Microsoft and Valve in other markets, underscoring a global shift toward more robust age‑gating mechanisms for adult‑only video game content.