Gamers bypass UK age verification with Death Stranding — no real face or VPN required

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In the United Kingdom, it is now necessary for adults to undergo age verification before accessing explicit content online. This new measure was implemented as part of the Online Safety Act, which became effective recently, and it involves users either scanning their own facial image or submitting a valid ID for verification.

Multiple well-known online platforms have been gearing up for age verification since the beginning of this month, such as Reddit. With the passing and enforcement of the Online Safety Act, larger adult websites now demand verification to access their content.

It seems that certain individuals opted against both choices provided for accessing mature content. Creative solutions have emerged, such as utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

But one particular bypass drew attention: you can use a video game to trick the security scan.

Dany Sterkhov, another user, posted a tip that using the photo mode in Death Stranding might help evade Discord’s security verification process.

It’s concerning that a static image on a computer screen might deceive the initial verification stage, suggesting the process may not be very sturdy. However, Discord does earn some praise for requesting a different pose during the full verification process.

In order to verify your authenticity on Discord, the k-ID system might request a selfie with an open mouth. To fulfill this condition, you can take a screenshot of Sam Porter Bridges, the main character from Death Stranding, in the game’s photo mode instead.

It strikes me that various games with photo modes might accomplish the same objective. It wouldn’t astonish me if age-verification-bypassing apps started marketing themselves as offering such functionality. In fact, it’s not inconceivable that artificial intelligence could enter the fray in the competition for superior age verification systems.

It’s clear that Death Stranding’s photo mode managed to circumvent Discord’s age verification process. The team at PC Gamer gave it a try, and they found that even with the character wearing a hat, snapping a photo still functioned properly.

VPN usage spikes in UK

Instead of relying on a humorous Death Stranding workaround, choosing a top-notch VPN service might be more beneficial. Not only does it enable you to circumvent specific limitations, but it also enhances your online security and safeguards your valuable data.

It’s no secret that after the UK implemented age verification rules for adult websites, there was a significant surge in VPN usage. For instance, Proton VPN reported a staggering 1400% increase in new sign-ups each hour following the passage of the Online Safety Act in the UK.

On last Friday, there was a 100-times jump in Google searches related to “Proton.” The VPN service humorously presented a chart showing this surge in interest on their platform X.

According to Tom’s Guide, Proton VPN is one of the elite VPNs on the market. However, there are also other reliable alternatives you might want to consider.

If you’re hunting for a new VPN, our colleagues at TechRadar track the best VPN deals.

What is Death Stranding?

Death Stranding is a video game, situated in a world after the apocalypse. It offers an expansive environment for those eager to delve deeper and uncover hidden gems.

In recognition, it was Hideo Kojima, renowned for Metal Gear Solid series, who crafted the game, offering a distinctive flair that loyal followers now anticipate.

If you’ve only played games on Xbox consoles, you wouldn’t have had the chance to play Death Stranding until recently, around the end of last year.

As an ardent admirer, I’m thrilled to share that Kojima Productions has taken complete ownership of the Death Stranding franchise. This move significantly increases the chances of a prompt release of Death Stranding 2 on Xbox, meaning we fans might not have to endure such long waits!

Initially, Death Stranding was exclusively released for the PlayStation platform. Later on, it expanded its availability to be played via PC Game Pass and Steam.

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2025-07-28 01:09