Starting on September 9, Epic Games will introduce a mandatory age‑verification step for Australian customers who wish to purchase or download games classified as R18+ on the Epic Games Store. This new requirement means that before any adult‑rated title can be accessed, the player must prove they are at least 18 years old. The policy aligns the store with Australia’s online safety code, which mandates that digital platforms restrict access to mature content for under‑age users. It is important to note that the verification will only apply to newly acquired R18+ games; any titles that players already own, as well as games rated below R18+, will remain unaffected and can be played without additional checks.
The age‑check system will be integrated into Epic’s pre‑existing Kids Web Services (KWS) infrastructure. To make the process as user‑friendly as possible, Epic is offering several distinct verification methods.
Users will be able to confirm their age by uploading a selfie that is processed through Yoti’s identity‑verification technology, by providing a credit‑card detail that is validated via Stripe’s secure payment gateway, or by submitting a scan of a government‑issued identification document which will be examined by Veriff’s ID‑checking service. These three options give players a choice in how they wish to prove their eligibility, catering to different privacy preferences and available resources. In addition to the initial trio of options, Epic has announced a fourth verification pathway that will become available later in September. This new method will rely on bank‑account verification through ConnectID, allowing users to confirm their age by linking a verified financial institution account.
By rolling out this extra alternative, Epic aims to further reduce friction for customers who may not have ready access to a passport or driver’s licence, while still maintaining a robust age‑validation framework. Epic has emphasized that any personal data collected during the verification process will be used solely for the purpose of confirming a user’s age. The company states that this information will be stored separately from the broader Kids Web Services data pool, ensuring that it is not mixed with other user activity or profile details.
This segregation is intended to protect user privacy and comply with data‑protection regulations both in Australia and internationally. The move by Epic follows a broader industry trend toward stricter age‑gate enforcement in the Australian market. Just a month earlier, Microsoft’s Xbox platform began deploying a similar age‑verification system for its console and PC stores.
Australian Xbox users now must verify their age before they can purchase or play R18+ games on the Microsoft Store, mirroring the same regulatory requirements that Epic is now addressing. Microsoft first rolled out comparable age‑gate measures in the United Kingdom in July 2025, shortly after the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) came into effect, which mandated that digital platforms implement reliable age‑verification mechanisms for adult content. Valve’s Steam platform has also taken steps in this direction, introducing age verification for UK users to unlock mature‑content titles. While Steam’s approach initially focused on the UK market, it signals a growing global consensus that age‑gate technology is becoming a standard feature for major digital distribution services.
For Australian gamers, the new Epic verification process will be triggered at the point of purchase or download for any R18+ title. When a player selects such a game, they will be prompted to choose one of the available verification methods. Once the selected method confirms that the user is at least 18, the transaction will proceed as normal. If the verification fails or the user declines to provide the necessary information, the purchase will be blocked, and the game will remain inaccessible until a valid age confirmation is supplied.
From a technical standpoint, integrating the verification flow into the existing KWS platform allows Epic to leverage its established backend services, reducing the need for a completely new system. The KWS already handles parental controls and content filters for younger audiences, so extending its capabilities to include adult‑content gating is a logical evolution. Moreover, by partnering with reputable third‑party providers such as Yoti, Stripe, Veriff, and ConnectID, Epic can ensure that the verification process meets industry standards for security, accuracy, and user experience. The broader implication of these changes is that Australian gamers will encounter a more consistent and transparent approach to age‑restricted content across multiple platforms.
With Epic, Microsoft, and Valve all moving toward comparable verification requirements, players can expect a unified experience regardless of which digital storefront they use. This consistency also helps regulators monitor compliance and enforce the online safety code more effectively. In summary, Epic Games’ decision to require age verification for R18+ titles in Australia represents a significant step toward aligning with national regulations and industry best practices.
By offering multiple verification options—selfie verification via Yoti, credit‑card validation through Stripe, government ID checks with Veriff, and upcoming bank verification via ConnectID—Epic aims to balance user convenience with the need to protect minors from adult content. The data collected will be strictly limited to age confirmation and stored separately from other user data, underscoring Epic’s commitment to privacy.
As other major platforms adopt similar measures, Australian gamers can look forward to a more secure and regulated digital gaming environment.