Sony has began telling PlayStation gamers within the UK and Eire that age verification will likely be required later this 12 months.
A message being despatched to gamers through their PlayStation 5 dashboard informs them that they’ll should confirm their age later in 2026 as a way to hold utilizing sure options like messages and voice chat.
It additionally provides gamers a QR code which they’ll scan to finish age verification now, so that they don’t should do it later within the 12 months when it turns into obligatory.
An FAQ web page on the PlayStation assist website is clearer on the timing, stating that obligatory age verification will begin “starting June 2026”, at which level all grownup accounts must confirm their age in the event that they haven’t already.
Sony says age verification is carried out by its “service supplier” Yoti, and consists of a number of choices embrace cellular quantity, facial scan or ID.
Acording to Sony, the next options could also be blocked on PlayStation consoles if age verification isn’t accomplished:
- Communication options on PlayStation (console, PS App and net)
- Voice chat
- Textual content chat / messaging
- Becoming a member of events or group periods
- Linked or third-party communication experiences
- Discord voice chat
- Broadcasting and sharing options
- Broadcasting gameplay to YouTube or Twitch
It additionally says some video games with their very own built-in communication instruments or user-generated content material may have their very own blocks on messaging and the sharing of person content material, if age verification isn’t accomplished.
If gamers select to not confirm their age, they’ll nonetheless play video games and use non-communication options on their console, and might nonetheless make PlayStation Retailer purchases.
Age verification is required by the UK’s On-line Security Act, and has already been put in place by different consoles and providers. Xbox began rolling out age verification again in July 2025.
Discord additionally added an age verification system final 12 months for UK and Australia customers, however has delayed plans to roll this out globally till it really works higher, saying it “missed the mark” with the way it handles the method.
