Grief has a way of turning ordinary logins into unexpected stress. A phone buzzes with a two-factor code. A console shows a familiar display name. A credit card alert appears for something no one in the family bought. If the person who died played Fortnite, used the Epic Games Store, or linked their Epic account to PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo, those digital threads can keep tugging at you long after the funeral calls slow down.
This guide is here to make the next steps feel steadier. We’ll walk through how to secure the account first (so no one can misuse it), how to submit an Epic deletion request when you have access, what to do when you don’t, and how to protect linked console connections and stored payment methods. Along the way, we’ll also zoom out to the bigger picture: digital accounts are now part of modern funeral planning, and it’s okay if you handle them slowly, one thoughtful step at a time.
Why an Epic Games account can matter after a death
An Epic account can hold more than a game library. It may include a purchase history, friends lists and messages, linked console identities, saved payment methods, parental-control settings for a child’s account, and a public-facing display name that still appears online. That’s why families often search close epic games account after death or delete epic games account deceased in the same week they’re also calling banks, mobile carriers, and subscription services.
Epic also treats accounts as personal to the account holder. Their terms emphasize that you can’t “sell” or “give away” an Epic account, and you’re responsible for activity on it, which is one reason families usually choose either to secure it long-term or to submit a formal deletion request rather than trying to “hand it down.” You can read that language directly in the Epic Games Terms of Service.
The first priority: secure email access and stop payments
Before you think about deletion, focus on safety. In most families, the Epic account is only as secure as the email address attached to it. If someone can access the email inbox, they can often reset passwords, approve security codes, and regain access to linked services.
If you can access the email inbox
If you have lawful access (for example, you’re the executor and the family has access to the email), start with these “protective” steps. They’re not about rushing a decision; they’re about preventing harm while you gather documents.
Begin by changing the email password and enabling strong two-factor authentication on the email account. Then review the inbox for messages from Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, PayPal, or a card issuer, since those emails often reveal linked accounts and recent purchases. Next, sign in to Epic if you can, check for saved cards or payment options, and remove them when possible. Finally, turn on transaction alerts for the associated bank or credit card so you’ll see any new charges immediately.
Even if you plan to delete the Epic account, this “secure first” approach helps you avoid a painful scenario: unauthorized spending or a compromised account while you’re still trying to locate paperwork.
If you cannot access the email inbox
If the family doesn’t have access to the email account, don’t panic—and don’t start guessing passwords. Instead, treat this like any other after-death administrative task: document what you know, preserve devices if needed, and contact the companies using their formal support processes. When families can’t sign in, it often helps to pause and create a simple list of what’s linked (consoles, email address clues, display name, any order emails you can find). That list becomes your map when you reach support.
For a broader, gentle framework on organizing logins and digital access, Funeral.com’s Journal guide on end-of-life planning and digital accounts can help families build an “inventory” without feeling like they have to solve everything immediately: End-of-Life Planning Checklist: The Documents, Conversations, and Digital Accounts to Organize Now.
How to request deletion when you can sign in
If you can sign in, Epic provides a self-service deletion option. This is often the cleanest route because it keeps the process inside the account itself, with verification steps sent to the registered email.
Epic’s help documentation explains that you can delete your account through their account settings and that security codes may be required; if you run into issues (like error messages during deletion), Epic instructs users to resend the security code or contact support. Start at Epic’s account support area here: Epic Games Account Support, and for deletion-specific troubleshooting, see: Epic’s account deletion error help page.
One important emotional note: deletion is often permanent. Many guides remind users that deleting an Epic account can remove access to purchases and in-game progress. If the account holds meaningful memories—screenshots, friend connections, or a child’s shared rituals with the person who died—families sometimes choose a “secure and pause” plan first, then revisit deletion later when emotions are less raw.
And if your family is deleting because you’re trying to protect privacy, that makes sense too. Many people choose epic games privacy deletion as a way to close out a digital footprint that no one wants to manage forever.
If you can’t sign in: how to contact Epic and what to prepare
If you’re searching epic account removal request because you don’t have login access, your best next step is to contact Epic through their support channels and explain that the account holder has died. Epic’s public documentation doesn’t lay out a single “deceased user” form in the way some social platforms do, so you should expect a support-guided process where they ask for details to verify authority and ownership.
Epic describes how to contact support through their help site and support assistant. Start here: How to contact Epic Games Support.
In practice, companies commonly ask for some combination of identifying details and documents. While requirements vary, it’s helpful to have these ready so you’re not scrambling mid-conversation. That usually includes the account holder’s Epic display name and any email address you believe was used, plus whatever linked platform details you know (such as a PlayStation Network ID, Xbox Gamertag, or Nintendo account name). You may also be asked for proof you’re authorized to act (for example, executor documentation or letters of administration), a copy of the death certificate, and any purchase receipts or transaction IDs you can locate in email or bank statements.
If you feel uneasy providing sensitive documents, ask the support representative what minimum documentation they need and what secure method they use for uploads. You’re allowed to advocate for privacy while still moving the process forward.
Unlink consoles and protect PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo connections
For many families, the urgent worry isn’t the game library—it’s the linked console accounts and stored payment methods. If the Epic account is linked to PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo, someone who gains access may be able to connect and spend, or at minimum keep the profile active in online spaces.
If you can sign in, review the “connected accounts” area and begin the careful process of unlinking where appropriate. If you can’t sign in, you can still protect the household by also securing the console ecosystem itself: change the passwords on the console platform accounts, remove stored cards, and consider signing out of all devices (or restricting purchases) through each platform’s account-security settings.
This is also the moment to think about the physical devices in the home. If the deceased person’s console is still signed in, treat it like a wallet: keep it in a safe place until you’ve secured passwords and confirmed who has permission to access it.
What happens to Fortnite items, V-Bucks, and purchases
Families often ask a gentle version of the same question: “Can we transfer it?” Sometimes it’s about money—paid games, cosmetics, or balances. Other times it’s about memory—the skins a parent and child used together, or a digital routine that mattered.
Legally and contractually, digital accounts are often non-transferable. Epic’s Terms of Service make clear that the account is meant to be used by the registered person and can’t be sold or given away. That doesn’t always match how real families behave in practice, but it’s an important guardrail when you’re deciding what to do next. If your goal is closure, a formal deletion request aligns best with those rules. See: Epic Games Terms of Service.
If your goal is simply to stop the account from being misused, you may not need to delete immediately. Securing the email and removing payments often resolves the highest-risk problems quickly, while giving your family time to decide what feels respectful.
Digital legacy is part of the after-death checklist now
Many families are surprised by how much “life” now happens behind logins. Gaming accounts, photo storage, subscription bundles, and community spaces can all become part of the practical workload after a death. Funeral.com’s Journal has several compassionate guides that can help you build a simple system for this, especially if you’re managing multiple accounts at once.
If you want a helpful place to start, Funeral.com’s Journal includes guidance such as After the Obituary: Updating Online Profiles, Directories, and Community Groups About a Death, support for navigating digital reminders in Social Media Memories After Loss: Managing “On This Day” Alerts and Digital Grief, and a broader organizing framework in End-of-Life Planning Checklist: The Documents, Conversations, and Digital Accounts to Organize Now.
If you’re supporting a grieving family member who keeps encountering reminders (friend notifications, invitations, in-game messages), it can help to name what’s happening: digital spaces can carry grief too. The goal isn’t to erase a person. The goal is to protect the family and decide, with care, what stays and what closes.
When account closure overlaps with funeral planning and memorial choices
It may feel strange to talk about an Epic account and memorial decisions in the same breath, but modern families often do. In the same week you’re searching digital gaming accounts after death, you may also be navigating funeral planning, cost questions, and what to do with cremated remains.
Cremation is now the majority choice in the United States. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025, with cremation continuing to rise. The Cremation Association of North America also tracks cremation rates year over year and publishes industry statistics based on state and provincial data. Those trends help explain why so many families end up making decisions about ashes, urns, and keepsakes alongside the administrative work of closing accounts.
If your family is choosing cremation, you may find yourself searching phrases like cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, or cremation necklaces—not because you want to shop, but because you want a plan that feels respectful.
If you’re in that place, Funeral.com offers gentle, practical guides that many families read when they’re not ready for big decisions but want a clear starting point. Those include Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally, ideas for what to do with ashes in What to Do With Cremation Ashes: 57 Ideas for Keeping, Sharing, or Scattering, a pricing overview for families asking how much does cremation cost in How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? Average Prices, Common Fees, and Ways to Save (2025 Guide), and a guide to water burial and biodegradable options in Biodegradable Water Urns for Ashes: How They Float, Sink, and Dissolve.
And when you’re ready to browse options without pressure, these collections can help you see what’s possible in plain terms—full-size urns, shareable keepsakes, pet memorials, and jewelry. You can explore cremation urns for ashes, compare small cremation urns for compact spaces or shared remains, and look at keepsake urns if your family wants to divide ashes among relatives. For wearable memorials, you can browse cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces. For animal companions, you can start with pet urns for ashes, including Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes and Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
If your loss involves a beloved animal companion, it’s normal for grief to show up in the same places it shows up after a person dies—routine, silence, and the small daily rituals that shaped your home. If you’re deciding what to do with pet ashes, Funeral.com’s guide can help you choose with confidence: Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide for Dog and Cat Owners.
A calm way to finish the Epic account task
When families feel overwhelmed, it helps to remember that you do not have to complete everything in one sitting. If you want a simple, compassionate finish line for the Epic account, aim for this: stop payments, secure access, and either (1) keep the account safely locked while you decide, or (2) submit a formal epic games privacy deletion request when you’re ready.
Grief is heavy enough without surprise charges, hacked accounts, or a digital profile that keeps resurfacing in the middle of the night. Whether you choose deletion now or later, taking these steps is a form of care—for the person who died, and for the people still here learning how to carry them forward.
