The latest Online Safety Bill from the British government could potentially influence the video game industry, as it is said that Rockstar Games, creators of Grand Theft Auto, are preparing to adhere to its regulations according to a source.
To ensure that inappropriate content is not accessible to minors, the debated law mandates that sites containing such material must implement age-verification systems.
The law initially designed to handle explicit content like pornography has also affected platforms such as Twitter and Reddit. In fact, Reddit’s r/cider subreddit gained notoriety due to its impact from the newly implemented system.
Currently, video game developers are aiming to adhere to the law in their existing and upcoming content, as it has been reported that Rockstar Games plans to implement an age verification system for Grand Theft Auto Online.
According to a tweet from well-known source Tez2, Rockstar Games are planning to introduce age verification processes soon, with the rollout happening gradually across different regions.
It is mentioned that you might need to confirm your age to play GTA Online, or some functions such as reading messages, using text chat, Snapmatic, could be limited until you provide your age information.
In the United Kingdom, Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) and its online counterpart, GTA Online, are rated as suitable for adults aged 18 and above. However, at present, there are no specific age restrictions in place for playing these games.
If Rockstar implements this system, it would necessitate age verification for adults prior to using the game’s online features. On the other hand, minors under the age of 18 wouldn’t have access to online play at all.
To ensure they’re well-prepared and in compliance with potential regulations, Rockstar might be carefully organizing their strategies regarding the explicit content found in GTA games, such as the Vanilla Unicorn strip club in GTA 5, as they anticipate guidance from the communications regulator Ofcom.
It’s quite logical to assume that if Rockstar plans to implement an age verification system in GTA 5 Online, they might also do so for GTA 6 Online.
Rockstar Games, makers of GTA Online, have raked in a significant fortune from their online platform. With speculations suggesting that GTA 6 could earn billions, it’s safe to assume they wouldn’t wish to jeopardize the game’s availability in a major market like the UK by having it potentially restricted.
Additionally, it’s worth pondering if age confirmation would be necessary for players residing in different nations.
Although it’s uncommon because there’s no law compelling foreign companies to confirm user ages, it’s still plausible given the numerous accounts of sites asking for age verification from users, not just in the EU and US, but globally.
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2025-08-05 18:21