Starting on September 9, Epic Games will enforce an age‑verification step for Australian customers who wish to purchase or download games that carry an R18+ rating on the Epic Games Store. This new requirement is designed to align the platform with Australia’s online safety regulations, which mandate that adult‑oriented digital content be accessible only to users who are legally recognized as adults. The policy will not affect games that players have already bought, nor will it apply to any titles that are classified below the R18+ threshold. In other words, existing libraries and lower‑rated games will remain fully accessible without additional checks.
The age‑check mechanism will be integrated into Epic’s pre‑existing Kids Web Services (KWS) infrastructure. To make the process as convenient as possible, Epic is partnering with several third‑party verification providers, giving users a choice of how they prove they are 18 years of age or older. One option is a selfie‑based verification service called Yoti, which uses facial recognition technology to match a live photograph with a government‑issued ID.
Another alternative is a credit‑card verification through Stripe, where a valid payment card can serve as proof of age. A third route involves submitting a government‑issued identification document to Veriff, a firm that specializes in digital identity checks. A fourth verification method, which relies on bank‑account confirmation via ConnectID, is slated to become available later in September, further expanding the toolkit that users can employ to satisfy the age‑verification requirement.
Epic has emphasized that any personal data collected through these channels will be used solely for the purpose of confirming a user’s age. The company also assures that this information will be processed independently of the broader Kids Web Services system, thereby limiting the scope of data handling to the specific verification task. Epic’s decision follows a broader industry trend toward stricter age‑gate enforcement in Australia. Just last month, Microsoft rolled out a similar age‑verification framework for its Xbox and Microsoft Store platforms, requiring Australian gamers to prove they are adults before they can access R18+ titles on consoles or PC.
This move was part of Microsoft’s compliance with Australian law, which seeks to protect younger audiences from exposure to mature content online. The Australian government’s online safety code, which came into effect earlier this year, obliges digital distributors to implement robust age‑gating mechanisms for adult‑rated material. The code was introduced to address concerns that younger users might inadvertently encounter explicit or violent content while browsing gaming marketplaces. By adopting these verification steps, Epic Games joins other major platforms that have already adjusted their policies to meet the new legal standards.
Internationally, similar measures have been adopted in other jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, Microsoft began enforcing age verification for its store in July 2025, shortly after the Office of the eSafety Commissioner (OSA) introduced its own set of guidelines for online content.
Valve’s Steam platform also introduced an age‑gate for UK users, requiring verification before granting access to mature‑rated games. These examples illustrate a growing global consensus that age‑appropriate access controls are a necessary component of responsible digital distribution.
For Australian gamers, the practical impact of Epic’s new policy will be relatively straightforward. When attempting to download or purchase an R18+ game, users will be prompted to select one of the available verification methods. After completing the chosen process—whether by uploading a selfie, entering credit‑card details, or submitting an ID scan—the system will confirm the user’s eligibility and allow the transaction to proceed.
If a user fails to provide satisfactory proof, the purchase will be blocked, and the game will remain inaccessible until a valid verification is submitted. Epic has also indicated that it will retain the ability to update or expand the verification options in the future, potentially adding new partners or technologies as they become available. This flexibility is intended to keep the age‑gate both secure and user‑friendly, ensuring that legitimate adult gamers can continue to enjoy the full breadth of Epic’s catalog without unnecessary friction. Overall, the introduction of age verification on the Epic Games Store marks a significant step toward compliance with Australian digital safety standards and reflects a broader industry shift toward more responsible content distribution.
By offering multiple verification pathways and committing to limited data usage, Epic aims to balance regulatory obligations with a smooth user experience, while safeguarding younger audiences from exposure to adult‑rated gaming content.