Microsoft is beginning to adjust to the UK’s On-line Security Act by prompting Xbox gamers to confirm their age right this moment. The prompts will probably be proven to Xbox gamers who point out they’re over the age of 18 and will probably be proven once you signal into an Xbox account within the UK. Microsoft says it’s additionally exploring bringing comparable age verification instruments to different nations sooner or later.
To energy the age verification within the UK, Microsoft is partnering with Yoti, which is without doubt one of the companies that hasn’t fallen sufferer to the Death Stranding photo mode bypass. Whereas the age verification checks are non-obligatory proper now, they are going to turn into a requirement to entry a wide range of Xbox companies in early 2026, when further elements of the UK’s On-line Security Act come into force.
“Beginning early subsequent yr, age verification will probably be required for these gamers within the UK to retain full entry to social options on Xbox, resembling voice or textual content communication and recreation invitations,” explains Kim Kunes, vice chairman of gaming belief and security at Xbox. In the event you don’t confirm your age between now and early subsequent yr, social options “will turn into restricted to pals solely” till the age verification course of has been accomplished.
“Whether or not a participant verifies their age won’t have an effect on any earlier purchases, entitlements, gameplay historical past, achievements, or the power to play and buy video games, nonetheless we encourage gamers to confirm their age by way of this one-time course of now to keep away from uninterrupted use of social options on Xbox sooner or later,” Kunes says.
Whereas that is restricted to Xbox gamers within the UK proper now, Kunes says, “We count on to roll out age verification processes to extra areas sooner or later.” Microsoft isn’t revealing which different areas will get comparable age verification necessities, however Kunes does observe that “these strategies could look completely different throughout areas and experiences.”
In the event you’re within the UK, then you may confirm your age in your Xbox account online through Microsoft, the place you should use a selfie, a scan of your passport or driver’s license, a bank card verify, or a cellular quantity.