Epic asks for two-factor authentication to claim free games Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Epic asks for two-factor authentication to claim free games From now until late May. News by Emma Kent Contributor Updated on 29 Apr 2020 22 comments If the worrying reports of Nintendo account breaches weren't already enough to encourage you to enable two-factor authentication on all your gaming accounts, then maybe Epic's new policy will, as the company will periodically require users to enable two-factor authentication before claiming free games on the Epic Games Store. For the next few weeks, at least. In a blog post, Epic explained the change was an "effort to encourage our players to take steps to strengthen their Epic account security", and will take place from now until 21st May. If two-factor authentication is not already enabled on a player's Epic account, the player will receive a message encouraging them to set up the security feature when trying to claim a free game. "We understand that this is a minor inconvenience for some, but we want to provide the best possible solutions to protect your Epic account," Epic added. Some have speculated the move could also be an attempt to crack down on people creating bot accounts to download the free games and then sell the accounts. Once you've claimed a game on Epic for free, you get to keep it forever, but the window in which you can claim it is limited - meaning the accounts become valuable if multiple free games are claimed over time. Sure enough, I had a brief look around the internet and was able to find several listings for Epic Games accounts stuffed with games previously made available for free. Epic has previously encouraged Fortnite players to set up two-factor authentication with a free emote giveaway, but I imagine the latest measure is an attempt to kill two birds with one stone. We'll have to see if it sticks around after 21st May. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store