US EditionXbox Introduces New Age Verification System to Align with the UK's Online Safety Act
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.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Xbox's New UK Age Verification System Coming to More Regions
Citing concerns around player safety, Xbox now expects to expand its age verification compliance obligations with the UK government to other regions in the future. A UK law, known as the Online Safety Act, came into effect this week, requiring UK citizens to verify their age with photo proof when accessing online content that has the potential to harm children. Players in the UK who fail to comply with a specific deadline for Xbox’s version of t…
The online gaming industry, which has already experienced a decade of rapid expansion, is heading toward a decisive inflection point in 2026. The combination of regulatory, technological, social, and financial factors could profoundly transform the way online gaming is conceived, offered, and consumed globally.
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