Starting on September 9, Epic Games will require players in Australia to prove that they are at least 18 years old before they can purchase or download any games that carry an R18+ rating on the Epic Games Store. This new policy is designed to bring the platform into compliance with Australia’s online safety regulations, which mandate that adult‑only content be restricted to users who have verified their age.
The change will not affect games that a player already owns, nor will it impact any titles that are rated below the R18+ threshold. The age‑verification process will be integrated into Epic’s already‑operational Kids Web Services (KWS) system. In order to give users flexibility, Epic is adding several third‑party verification methods to the KWS framework.
Players will be able to choose from a selfie‑based verification service provided by Yoti, a credit‑card check powered by Stripe, or a government‑issued identification verification offered by Veriff. Each of these options is intended to be quick and secure, allowing users to confirm their age without excessive friction. A fourth verification pathway, which will rely on bank‑account validation through ConnectID, is slated to become available later in September. This additional method will further broaden the choices available to Australian gamers, ensuring that the verification process can accommodate a wide range of user preferences and circumstances.
Epic has emphasized that any personal data collected through these verification channels will be used solely for the purpose of confirming a user’s age. The company states that the information will be processed independently of the broader Kids Web Services data set, thereby limiting the scope of data handling to the minimum necessary for compliance.
The move mirrors recent actions taken by other major gaming platforms in the region. Last month, Xbox began rolling out a similar age‑verification requirement for Australian users. Under that system, players must verify their age before they can access R18+ titles on the Microsoft Store and Xbox Store, whether they are playing on a console or a PC.
This step was also taken to align with Australian regulatory expectations regarding adult content. Microsoft’s age‑verification initiative is not limited to Australia.
The company introduced a comparable system in the United Kingdom in July 2025, shortly after the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) came into force. The OSA requires digital platforms to implement robust age‑gating mechanisms for mature content, prompting Microsoft to adapt its verification procedures for both console and PC users in that market. Valve has followed a similar path. The Steam platform introduced age‑verification measures for UK users, enabling the company to comply with the OSA and continue offering mature‑rated games to verified adults.
These industry‑wide shifts indicate a growing trend toward stricter age‑gating across major digital distribution services. For Australian gamers, the new Epic verification process will likely involve a brief interaction at the point of purchase or download. When a user attempts to acquire an R18+ title, the system will prompt them to select their preferred verification method.
If they choose the selfie option, they will be guided through a quick photo capture that is then cross‑checked against facial‑recognition algorithms to confirm the user’s age. The credit‑card route will involve entering a valid payment card, which is then validated for age eligibility based on the cardholder’s information.
The government‑ID option will require users to upload a scanned copy or photograph of an official identification document, such as a driver’s licence or passport, which Veriff will assess for authenticity and age confirmation. The upcoming bank‑verification method will link directly to a user’s bank account via ConnectID, allowing the system to verify age based on the account holder’s records.
Epic has assured users that all verification data will be stored securely and will not be used for any purpose other than age confirmation. The company also notes that once a user’s age has been verified, the verification status will be retained for future purchases, reducing the need for repeated checks on subsequent R18+ titles. The introduction of these measures reflects a broader industry response to evolving legal standards around digital content.
As governments worldwide tighten regulations on the accessibility of adult‑oriented media, platforms like Epic Games Store, Xbox, Microsoft, and Steam are adapting their policies to ensure compliance while striving to maintain a seamless user experience. For Australian players, the upcoming changes mean that accessing mature games will involve an additional, but straightforward, step to confirm eligibility, ultimately fostering a safer online environment for all users.