Why Is Epic Games Asking For My SSN? Important Facts

This is unusual for Epic Games, given the creators’ claim never to request personal information. At first glance, it appears to be a typical phishing attempt. While this action was intended to safeguard youngsters, it rapidly backfired. Why is that so?

According to Epic Games’ official blog, this is done to confirm that the individual establishing the profile is, in fact, an adult. For the most part, it is a foolproof mechanism because the Social Security Number or credit/debit card information will give indisputable confirmation of age. 

While it might be claimed that a kid can simply obtain all of this knowledge from their parents, this is not always the case. Nonetheless, submitting such information is unusual, but that is only one side of the issue.

For more information, continue reading this article. 

Is Phishing Attempting To Imitate The Verification Process?

While a blog claims that this is a legal procedure, numerous users of the Fortnite subreddit are sceptical that the email sent to the initial poster is genuine. Given that phishing efforts in Fortnite are becoming more sophisticated and fraudulent regularly, this might very well be one of them.

This is pretty troubling because Epic Games did not previously require Social Security Number (SSN). However, based on feedback from multiple users, this appears to be the norm. Among Us parent verification flow, SuperAwesome even has an unlisted video demonstrating the process.

Watch the video to learn more.

Is This The New Norm?

According to the facts available, the developers do not influence the situation. Because the protection of minors is the regulatory body’s first responsibility, a failsafe mechanism must be created for everyone. Users’ information should be regarded as safe and secure because it is sent straight to Epic Games.

Although it is a violation of privacy, it appears to be for the benefit of the Fortnite multiplayer experience. Because the metaverse, and Fortnite in general, can be a harsh environment, having parental advice or help may be critical for children throughout their formative years.

Is The Epic Games Store Safe?

The Epic Store is one of the most secure online marketplaces. While there is always a little danger when using any type of online store, Epic Games has invested a significant amount of time and money into making it a secure place to shop. 

Similar safety and customer service safeguards may be found in other online game marketplaces such as Steam. While news of the Epic Store was not universally welcomed, the concerns were more frequently associated with the fact that it meant consumers would no longer have all of their PC games in one location. 

Epic Games is a reliable firm with a lot of money behind it, and they need to wow the public with their dependability and desire to help to compete with their bigger and more established opponent, Steam. 

As a result, they will go out of their way to make your shopping experience the best it can be. For that purpose, they always offer free games available for download. If you are unfamiliar with Epic Games, this may appear suspicious at first, but they pay the devs behind the scenes to allow them to give the game.

Why Does The Epic Store Give Away Free Games?

One thing that frequently confuses people and even makes some people unfamiliar with the firm suspicious of them is the fact that they are always giving away free games, even large ones. 

While free games are excellent for those of us who play them, Epic, as well as game creators and publishers, benefits from the bargain, so it’s not wholly altruistic. The reason they give the games out is to attract users to go into the shop to see what games are available for free. 

It also has the added benefit of causing customers to check in to play the game daily, bringing them back to the store again and again. Epic’s interest is to provide you with free games since the larger the player’s library, the more likely they are to return.

Is Epic Store Good For Developers?

It would be irresponsible to discuss the downsides without also discussing the pros. Aside from the free games and increased pricing competition, Epic takes a far lower share of purchases than Steam, which means more of your money ends up in the developer’s hands. 

While this may not seem crucial to the end user, it means the firm will have more money to produce bigger and better games, or if a game fails, it may keep the company from going bankrupt or having to make cuts.

A developer who worked with Epic to release a title attested that they assist their developers effectively and provide a lot of help in a variety of ways that other shops do not.

Why Is There Negative Energy Towards The Epic Store?

Why should consumers be upset about increased PC game sales competition and free games? For many, the necessity to separate their PC gaming library is the source of their rage. 

For the longest time, Steam controlled the market, serving as a repository for all of your games. While there are others, such as Ubisoft Connect and CD Projekt Red’s Good Old Games, none come close to Steam’s dominance. Epic’s shop is the first serious rival, and they have the resources to make it succeed.

As a result, they are receiving exclusive deals comparable to consoles and releasing their games exclusively for their shop. However, they have stated that they will cease doing so once they have established a firm footing. As a result, they are gradually beginning to fragment people’s libraries, which some despise.

Conclusion

Accounts are being deleted unless gamers enter Social Security or credit card details for verification. Epic Games has partnered with SuperEasy to provide a secure online experience for children. The partnership began in September 2021, but it has only lately gained attention owing to an innovative method of user authentication.

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