Starting on September 9, Epic Games will introduce a mandatory age‑verification step for Australian users who wish to purchase or download games classified as R18+ on the Epic Games Store. This new requirement is designed to ensure that only individuals who are legally recognized as adults can access content that is deemed suitable solely for mature audiences. The policy aligns the store’s practices with Australia’s online safety code, which mandates strict controls over the distribution of adult‑oriented material on digital platforms.
Under the new system, players who are already owners of R18+ titles will not be required to undergo any additional checks; the verification process will apply only to new purchases or downloads of such games. Likewise, any game that carries a rating below R18+ will remain freely accessible without any age‑verification prompts. This distinction helps to keep the experience seamless for the majority of gamers while focusing the verification effort on content that is explicitly restricted to adults.
The age‑verification mechanism will be powered by Epic’s pre‑existing Kids Web Services (KWS) infrastructure, which has been expanded to incorporate a suite of third‑party verification providers. Users will be able to select from several methods to prove they are at least 18 years old. One option is a selfie‑based verification service called Yoti, which uses facial recognition technology to match the user’s live image against official identification records.
Another alternative is a credit‑card verification process facilitated by Stripe, where a small transaction or token validation confirms the cardholder’s age. A third route involves submitting a government‑issued identification document through Veriff, a service that validates passports, driver’s licences, and other official IDs.
In addition to these three options, Epic has announced that a fourth verification pathway will be added later in September. This new method will rely on bank‑account verification via ConnectID, allowing users to confirm their age through a secure link to their banking institution.
By offering multiple avenues for verification, Epic aims to accommodate a wide range of user preferences and accessibility needs, ensuring that the process is as frictionless as possible while still meeting regulatory requirements. Epic has emphasized that any personal data collected during the verification process will be used solely for the purpose of confirming the user’s age. The information will be handled independently of the broader Kids Web Services system, meaning that it will not be merged with other user data or used for unrelated purposes such as marketing or profiling.
This separation is intended to protect user privacy and to comply with both Australian privacy legislation and Epic’s internal data‑handling policies. The move by Epic follows a broader industry trend toward stricter age‑verification protocols in the Australian market. Earlier this year, Microsoft rolled out a similar age‑check requirement for its Xbox and Microsoft Store platforms.
Australian gamers who wish to access R18+ titles on those services must now verify their age before they can download or purchase such content. This step was taken to bring Microsoft’s digital storefronts into compliance with the same online safety code that Epic is now adhering to. Microsoft’s age‑verification framework was first introduced in the United Kingdom in July 2025, shortly after the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) came into force. The UK legislation mandates that online services implement robust mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing adult‑rated material.
Following the UK rollout, Microsoft extended the verification system to Australia, reflecting the growing global emphasis on protecting younger internet users from inappropriate content. Valve, the company behind the Steam platform, has also adopted age‑verification measures for its UK user base. Steam now requires users to confirm they meet the legal age threshold before they can view or purchase mature‑rated games.
While Valve’s system currently operates only in the UK, the company has indicated that it may expand similar safeguards to other regions in the future, especially where local regulations demand it. The introduction of age verification on major gaming platforms underscores a shifting regulatory landscape in which governments are taking a more active role in ensuring that digital content providers enforce age‑appropriate access controls. For developers and publishers, this means that compliance will become an integral part of the distribution pipeline, requiring coordination with platform operators to integrate verification steps into the purchasing flow. From a consumer perspective, the added verification step may initially feel like an inconvenience, but it also provides an added layer of security for families and guardians who wish to monitor the types of games their children can access.
By centralising the verification process through reputable third‑party services, platforms can offer a trustworthy method of age confirmation without exposing users to unnecessary risk. Looking ahead, it is likely that more regions will adopt similar policies as the global community continues to grapple with the challenges of balancing open digital marketplaces with the need to protect vulnerable audiences. Epic Games’ decision to implement age verification for R18+ titles in Australia positions the company as a proactive participant in this evolving regulatory environment, demonstrating a commitment to both legal compliance and user safety. Overall, Australian gamers can expect a brief verification prompt when they attempt to acquire adult‑rated games on the Epic Games Store, with multiple convenient options to confirm their age.
Existing owners of such titles will remain unaffected, and all other games will continue to be available without interruption. The initiative reflects a broader industry movement toward responsible content distribution, aligning with similar steps taken by Microsoft, Valve, and other major platforms worldwide.