Epic Games has announced that, beginning on September 9, Australian users will be required to prove that they are at least 18 years old before they can download or purchase any games that carry an R18+ rating on the Epic Games Store. This new requirement is part of the company’s effort to align its service with Australia’s online safety regulations, which mandate that adult-oriented digital content be restricted to users who have verified they are of legal age. The policy change will not affect games that users have already purchased, nor will it impact titles that are rated below the R18+ threshold; those will remain freely accessible to all players. The age‑verification mechanism will be integrated into Epic’s already‑deployed Kids Web Services (KWS) infrastructure.
In order to give players flexibility and to meet various privacy and convenience preferences, Epic is rolling out several third‑party verification pathways. The first option allows users to verify their age by submitting a selfie that is processed through Yoti, a service that uses facial recognition technology to confirm identity. The second method involves linking a credit card via Stripe, which can verify a user’s age based on the cardholder’s information.
The third alternative uses Veriff, a provider that checks government‑issued identification documents such as driver’s licences or passports. A fourth verification channel, which will be added later in September, will rely on bank‑account verification through ConnectID, further broadening the choices available to consumers.
Epic has emphasized that any personal data collected through these verification steps will be used solely for the purpose of confirming a user’s age. The information will be stored separately from the core KWS system and will not be employed for any other purpose, such as marketing or profiling. This separation is intended to address privacy concerns and to comply with data‑protection standards that apply both in Australia and internationally. The move mirrors similar actions taken by other major gaming platforms.
In the preceding month, Xbox rolled out an age‑verification requirement for Australian customers. Xbox users now need to confirm they are 18 or older before they can access R18+ games on both the Microsoft Store and the Xbox Store across console and PC platforms, in accordance with the same Australian regulatory framework.
Microsoft previously introduced comparable age‑verification procedures in the United Kingdom in July 2025, shortly after the Office of the eSafety Commissioner (OSA) introduced stricter rules for online adult content. Valve’s Steam platform has also adopted age‑verification measures for its UK audience, allowing mature‑content titles to be accessed only after a user’s age has been confirmed. The broader context for these changes is a growing global trend toward tighter control of digital adult content. Governments are increasingly demanding that online services implement robust age‑gating mechanisms to protect minors from exposure to explicit material.
In Australia, the Online Safety Act and related codes of practice set out clear expectations for digital distributors, requiring them to verify the age of users before granting access to adult‑rated content. By adopting a multi‑option verification system, Epic Games aims to meet these legal obligations while also offering a user‑friendly experience that respects privacy and convenience. From a technical standpoint, integrating third‑party verification services into an existing platform like KWS involves several steps. First, the platform must securely transmit the user’s verification data to the chosen provider (Yoti, Stripe, Veriff, or ConnectID) via encrypted APIs.
The provider then processes the data, performs the necessary checks, and returns a simple pass/fail response indicating whether the user meets the age requirement. Epic’s system then records this outcome and grants or denies access to the R18+ content accordingly. Throughout this workflow, Epic has committed to minimizing data retention, deleting verification records once the age check is completed, unless a longer retention period is required by law. For gamers, the practical impact of the new policy will be relatively straightforward.
When attempting to purchase or download an R18+ title, the user will be prompted to select a verification method. After completing the chosen process—whether by taking a selfie, entering credit‑card details, uploading a scanned ID, or linking a bank account—the system will instantly confirm eligibility and allow the transaction to proceed. If verification fails, the user will be informed that they cannot access the adult‑rated content until they can provide acceptable proof of age.
Industry analysts see these steps as part of a broader shift toward responsible gaming and digital stewardship. By proactively adopting age‑gating solutions, platforms like Epic Games Store demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding younger audiences while still providing adult players with the freedom to enjoy mature content. As more regions adopt similar regulations, it is likely that other digital marketplaces will follow suit, standardising age‑verification practices across the global gaming ecosystem. In summary, starting September 9, Australian players of the Epic Games Store will need to verify that they are at least 18 years old before they can download or purchase any R18+ games.
The verification will be handled through Epic’s Kids Web Services, offering multiple third‑party options—including selfie verification via Yoti, credit‑card checks through Stripe, ID verification via Veriff, and an upcoming bank‑verification method with ConnectID. Data collected will be used solely for age confirmation and kept separate from other user data. This initiative aligns Epic with Australian online safety laws and follows similar moves by Xbox, Microsoft, and Valve, reflecting an industry‑wide push toward stronger age‑gating for adult digital content.