Epic Games introduces a new type of account for kids playing their online multiplayer games. The new accounts, called Cabined Accounts, have some restrictions until a parent or guardian gives permission for certain features. They start rolling in Fortnite, Rocket Leagueand Autumn Boys, Epic said in a blog post Wednesday.
If someone tries to create an account and says they are under 13 (or under the age of digital consent for their country), that account will become a Cabined account. Kids using a Cabined account can play Fortnite, Rocket Leagueor Autumn guys, but some key features will be disabled, including text and voice chat, purchasing items with money, and downloading titles from non-Epic developers. You can view the full list of disabled features on Epic’s website.
To access these features, a player with a Cabined account must obtain permission from a parent or guardian, who can also set parental control features to customize the experience for their child. Children under the age of 13 who already have an account and whose parents/guardians have not yet given permission will be moved to Cabined Accounts. You can read more details on Epic’s page for parents on the website.
These new Cabined Accounts have a clear advantage for Epic: The company gives kids a way to try out its popular online games without direct parental consent, reducing the chance that a child will simply lie about their age to buy a game. to play. But by protecting kids from some online interactions or accidentally spending large amounts of money on in-game cosmetics without parental consent, Epic also tacitly encourages kids and their parents to have an important conversation about gaming habits and their time online. It’s also easy to envision these Cabined Accounts expanding into future projects, like the kid-focused metaverse Epic is developing with Lego.
Other companies that provide major social platforms have also taken steps to create safer accounts for children. For example, Instagram makes accounts private for users under 16 by default, and roblox provides an age verification feature to verify the age of teen players.
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