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Epic’s “aggressive fraud rules” are blocking users for buying too many games

Epic’s “aggressive fraud rules” are blocking users for buying too many games

Epic Games Store users have found their accounts blocked from purchase if they try to buy too many games.

While security is a key concern for any distributor, it seems the Fortnite maker's new store is currently taking strangely aggressive measures against users who try to purchase too many games at once.

Streamer Patrick Boivin revealed via Twitter (reported by GameRevolution) that he and other users have had their accounts flagged as fraudulent after trying to purchase five or more games on the Epic Store.

 The problem is exacerbated by the store’s lack of a basic shopping cart, meaning users trying to buy multiple titles are doing so one-by-one rather than in one bulk purchase.

“This was a result of our aggressive fraud rules,” said Epic senior PR Nick Chester. “If players run into this issue, they should contact player support so we can investigate.”

This comes as an extra sting during the already-controversial first Epic Mega Sale. Store-wide discounts don’t mean much when trying to take advantage of multiple purchases can end in a blocked account.

It comes after a period of bad press for Epic Games, largely around this first Mega sale. A flat discount on all games priced $15 or more has been accused of devaluing games that are yet to release. While Steam sales operate on an opt-in system, Epic failed to ask developers whether they were comfortable with a $10 cut to new and unreleased games.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 and Borderlands 3 were subsequently pulled from sale after Epic discounted pre-release purchases. Meanwhile, Supergiant’s early access roguelike Hades will go up in price once the sale ends, after a brief price hike was reverted.

 


Staff Writer

Natalie Clayton is an Edinburgh-based freelance writer and game developer. Besides PCGamesInsider and Pocketgamer.biz, she's written across the games media landscape and was named in the 2018 GamesIndustry.biz 100 Rising Star list.