Key Takeaways
1. Microsoft will begin age verification for Xbox accounts in the UK to comply with the Online Safety Act effective July 25, 2025.
2. Users aged 18 and older will receive prompts to verify their age using methods like government ID or credit card checks.
3. Microsoft partnered with Yoti for identity verification, but players can still access games without verification until early 2026, when social features will require it.
4. There are concerns about privacy risks and sensitive information sharing related to the new regulations, with opposition from groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
5. Some users are finding workarounds to bypass the verification process, leading to increased VPN usage.
Microsoft has revealed that it will start the age verification process for Xbox accounts in the UK to follow the Online Safety Act, which became effective on July 25, 2025.
New Regulations for Online Platforms
This law mandates that social media and entertainment companies must set up a user verification system that stops children from accessing harmful or inappropriate content meant for older audiences. Numerous adult websites and platforms like Reddit are already implementing these verification methods to adhere to the new regulations.
Notification for Players
As of today, players who state their account age as 18 or older, are located in the UK, and log into an Xbox experience using a Microsoft account will start receiving messages prompting them to verify their age. Microsoft claims that this will be a “one-time process.” Players can confirm their identity through a government-issued ID, credit card checks, age estimation, or checks from their mobile providers.
Partnership with Yoti
According to The Verge, Microsoft has teamed up with Yoti, a UK company that specializes in identity verification. Players who opt not to verify their age can still enjoy games on their Xbox accounts. However, starting in early 2026, age verification will be required to access social features on their accounts, such as voice or text chat and game invites.
Microsoft strongly urges players in the UK to “verify their age via this one-time process now to avoid interruptions in their use of social features on Xbox.”
Alternative Solutions and Concerns
Interestingly, there are already some smart ways to get around this process, like using the photo mode in Death Stranding 2 to skip the verification. The new law has also led to a rise in VPN usage across the country.
This legislation has ignited a huge discussion about the potential risks to privacy and the need to share sensitive information. Various non-profit groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have voiced their opposition to the bill.
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