What Information Does Your Game Store Really Collect?

Game stores collect all kinds of information about you – often without you even realising. Not just in physical shops, but also via websites, apps and loyalty schemes. Think – your email address, location, purchases, or even exactly when you play games.

Want to know exactly what kind of data game stores collect? Discover why they do it, how transparent they are about their policies, and what you can do to better protect your privacy. In addition, deep dive into Epic Games: what they know about you, and how you can stay in control of your data. Prefer not to share personal information while gaming? Game vouchers from MobileTopUp offer a safe and convenient solution.

What Do Game Stores Keep Track Of?

Whether you’re buying games, using apps, or logging into an account, game stores monitor almost everything. Here’s what they typically collect:

• Your email address, date of birth and other personal details
• Which games you’ve bought and played
• The times you play
• Your preferences in terms of platform or genre
• Location data, particularly via mobile apps
• Connected accounts, such as Xbox, PlayStation or Steam

With this data, they can monitor your behaviour and tailor their offerings accordingly — for example, by giving you personalised recommendations.

Why Do Game Stores Collect Your Data?

Data is usually collected to enhance your experience: you receive personalised suggestions, tailored discounts, and your progress is saved. But there are other reasons too:

• Advertising and marketing
• Improving customer service
• Market research and statistics
• Sharing your data with other companies

This is often part of a loyalty programme. In exchange for discounts or points, you give permission for your activity to be tracked. While not necessarily a bad thing, it’s definitely something to be mindful of. Always read the privacy policy carefully before agreeing to anything.

How Transparent Are Game Stores About Their Policies?

In many cases, users have limited insight into what’s done with their data. If you want to know more, you usually have to sift through a long privacy policy. Only a few platforms provide a dashboard where you can edit or delete your data.
As a result, many gamers are unaware of what goes on behind the scenes. That’s why it’s smart to take control of your own digital footprint.

Epic Games: What the Platform Knows About You

Epic Games is an essential platform for many gamers, but it collects quite a lot of data — not just about your purchases, but also about how you play and on what device. Epic tracks, among other things:

• Which games you play and how often
• Your friends list and interactions
• The payment methods you use
• Your IP address and the devices you use
• Sometimes even which other games are installed on your PC

This information is used for security, customer service, personalised recommendations, and marketing.

Does Epic Games Track Your Behaviour?

Yes. Your activity is tracked via your account, cookies, and the Epic Games Launcher. Part of this is to improve your user experience, but it also means Epic has a fairly detailed profile of you. Fortunately, you can limit this through your settings.

Can Others See Your Games or Friends?

Not by default. You decide whether your games, friends list, or online status are visible to others. You can manage this in your Epic account settings.

What Is a ‘Cabined Account’?

Epic automatically creates a cabined account for younger users. You can still play games, but certain features are blocked until a parent gives permission. These include:

• Chatting with others
• Adding friends
• Making purchases
• Playing certain multiplayer games

Once parental consent is given (sometimes with extra verification), the account becomes fully activated.

Does Epic Ask for Your Age?

Yes. When creating an account, you're asked to enter your age. If you’re under 13 (or under 16 in some countries), you’ll automatically receive a cabined account. Epic rarely asks for sensitive data such as your National Insurance number. If you do receive such a request, always check that it’s from a secure source.

Can Epic See Games Previously Installed?

Yes. The Epic Games Launcher can scan your system to detect which games are already installed. This often happens when installing the launcher or linking your account. Epic can then determine, for example, whether your device is compatible with certain games.

How Secure Is Your Epic Account?

Epic provides solid security options, including two-factor authentication. Always enable this. Use a unique, strong password and don’t click on suspicious links in emails or chats. After all, most issues arise due to user inattention.

Can You Delete Your Epic Account?

Yes. You can delete your account through your settings. Be aware though – if you delete your account, you’ll lose all your purchases, progress, and data. Epic will erase everything, except information they’re legally required to keep.

Prefer Not to Share Personal Data? Use a Game Voucher

Want to buy games without providing personal information? Using a game voucher is ideal to help protect your privacy. It’s also worth using a separate email address for gaming.

At MobileTopUp, you can buy game vouchers for Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and more. No account, password or credit card required, and you’ll receive the code instantly by email.

Explore all available game vouchers at MobileTopUp

Take Control of Your Privacy as a Gamer

You don’t need to be a tech expert to reduce your digital footprint. These tips can take you a long way:

• Use strong, unique passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible
• Link as few accounts as you can
• Regularly review and update your privacy settings
• Use a separate email address for gaming
• Pay with a game voucher if you want to stay anonymous

You Decide What You Share

Gaming is fun — but protecting your privacy is just as important. By being aware of what game stores know about you, you can make better decisions. Read privacy policies, adjust your settings, and choose privacy-friendly payment methods.
With a game voucher from MobileTopUp, you stay in control of your data — without compromising your gaming experience.