Starting on September 9, Epic Games will require anyone in Australia who wishes to download or purchase games classified as R18+ on the Epic Games Store to first prove that they are at least 18 years old. This new requirement is designed to bring the digital storefront into compliance with Australia’s online safety regulations, which mandate that adult‑oriented content be shielded from under‑age users.
The decision was reported by PocketGamer.biz, which quoted Epic as saying the policy aligns the store with the nation’s online safety code that governs access to mature material. It’s important to note that the age‑check will only apply to newly acquired R18+ titles. Games that a player already owns, as well as any titles carrying a rating lower than R18+, will remain unaffected and can be accessed without additional verification.
To carry out the age‑check, Epic will tap into its pre‑existing Kids Web Services (KWS) infrastructure. The company is expanding KWS with a suite of third‑party verification tools, giving users a choice of how they want to confirm their age. The options currently on offer include: * **Selfie verification via Yoti** – Users can submit a live selfie that is matched against a government‑issued ID using Yoti’s facial‑recognition technology. * **Credit‑card verification through Stripe** – By entering a valid credit‑card number, the system can confirm that the cardholder is an adult, as credit cards are typically issued to individuals over 18.
* **Government‑issued ID verification via Veriff** – This method requires users to upload a scan or photo of an official identification document, such as a driver’s licence or passport, which Veriff then validates. A fourth verification pathway, which will rely on bank‑account confirmation through ConnectID, is slated to become available later in September. This staggered rollout gives Epic time to integrate the new service and ensure that each method meets both security and privacy standards. 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 information will be stored separately from the core Kids Web Services database, thereby limiting exposure and reducing the risk of cross‑service data aggregation. This separation is intended to reassure users and regulators that the age‑check is a narrowly scoped operation rather than a broader data‑harvesting effort. Epic’s move mirrors a broader industry trend toward stricter age‑gate mechanisms in regions with robust online‑content legislation.
Just a month earlier, Microsoft began rolling out a comparable age‑verification system for its Xbox and Microsoft Store platforms in Australia. Under that scheme, Australian gamers must verify their age before they can purchase or play R18+ titles on either console or PC.
The Microsoft initiative was also introduced to comply with the country’s legal framework governing adult digital content. Microsoft’s age‑gate was first piloted in the United Kingdom in July 2025, shortly after the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) came into force. The OSA requires online platforms to implement robust age‑verification measures for mature content, prompting a wave of compliance efforts across the gaming sector. Following Microsoft’s lead, Valve announced that Steam would also adopt age‑verification procedures for UK users, ensuring that players could only access mature games after confirming they met the legal age threshold.
The rollout of these verification systems reflects a growing recognition that digital marketplaces must take proactive steps to protect younger audiences while still providing adult gamers with access to appropriate content. By offering multiple verification avenues—ranging from biometric selfie checks to traditional financial validation—Epic aims to balance user convenience with regulatory compliance. The inclusion of third‑party providers such as Yoti, Stripe, Veriff, and the upcoming ConnectID service also distributes the verification workload, reducing the burden on Epic’s own infrastructure and leveraging specialized expertise in identity confirmation. From a user‑experience perspective, the new process will likely introduce a brief additional step before the purchase or download of an R18+ game.
Players will be prompted to select their preferred verification method, complete the required steps, and receive instant confirmation that they have satisfied the age requirement. Once verified, the system will remember the user’s status for future transactions, minimizing repeated checks for the same account. Privacy advocates have praised the decision to keep verification data isolated from the broader Kids Web Services ecosystem, noting that this approach mitigates the risk of unnecessary data sharing. Nonetheless, some concerns remain about the handling of sensitive personal information, especially when third‑party services are involved.
Epic has pledged to adhere to strict data‑protection standards and to comply with both Australian privacy law and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable. In summary, Epic Games is set to enforce an age‑verification protocol for all R18+ titles on its Australian store as of September 9.
The system will be powered by the existing Kids Web Services platform and will incorporate a variety of verification options—including selfie, credit‑card, and government‑ID checks—provided by external partners. This initiative aligns Epic with recent industry moves by Microsoft and Valve, and demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding younger players while respecting the rights of adult gamers.