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Microsoft Asks British Xbox Fans to Prove Their Age
UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 29 – Microsoft begins optional age verification for UK Xbox users 18 and older to ensure compliance with the UK Online Safety Act before mandatory enforcement in early 2026.
- Xbox is launching new age verification procedures for U.K. users on July 28, 2025, in response to the Online Safety Act, Microsoft said.
- Microsoft announced on July 28, 2025, that it is deploying new age verification procedures for UK Xbox players, citing privacy concerns raised, Microsoft said via Xbox Wire.
- Players can verify their age using government-issued ID, age estimation, mobile provider check and credit card verification, with data protected by industry-standard encryption, Microsoft said.
- Beginning early next year, players must verify age to retain full access to voice, text, and invites; unverified users will lose Looking for Group, custom clubs, Discord, and Twitch.
- Industry peers like Sony and Nintendo may follow Microsoft's lead as it plans to expand age verification globally, based on UK learnings, in the near future.
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It started with Pornhub... Now it's Microsoft: UK age verification comes to Xbox
UK gamers, get ready to prove your age... Microsoft has begun emailing Xbox users in the United Kingdom with news that could affect how they interact online. As part of compliance with the UK Online Safety Act, Microsoft is introducing mandatory age verification for all UK accounts, a move reminiscent of what adult sites like Pornhub faced earlier this summer. "As part of our compliance program for the UK Online Safety Act and our ongoing invest…
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Total News Sources23
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
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