Xbox begins age verification in the UK in accordance with recent law — with restrictions beginning early next year

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On Monday, July 28th, it was announced by Microsoft that they are implementing new methods for U.K. Xbox users to confirm their identities, as reported on Xbox Wire.

Following the implementation of the Online Safety Act for the nation, this measure aims primarily at safeguarding younger users by implementing age verification processes, ensuring that only those aged 18 and above can access adult content online.

As a tech-savvy gamer, I’m excited to share that from today, if you’re an Xbox user residing in the U.K., aged 18 or above, and you log into your Xbox profile, you might notice a suggestion to confirm your identity. This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience for everyone!

For UK players aged 18 and above, using an Xbox experience linked to a Microsoft account, you might start receiving reminders to confirm your age. This one-time verification process for British users helps us maintain an environment where everyone can enjoy age-suitable experiences on our platform.

It’s been stated that at a certain time in the upcoming year, individuals fitting the described category who haven’t verified their age will only be able to play online games with friends. This change won’t affect their ability to purchase games, additional content, or any other non-social game aspects.

These platforms such as Discord and Reddit are implementing facial recognition (which some ingenious users have found ways to circumvent using the highly realistic characters from Death Stranding 2), sparking debate about censorship, privacy invasions, and fears of excessive government intervention.

What methods can be employed to confirm one’s age?” Microsoft advises that you may utilize several alternatives such as a government-issued identification card, age estimation tools, checks with your mobile service provider, or by using credit cards.

It’s not just the UK where online age verification will be implemented. Microsoft further clarifies that they plan to expand this safety measure to various other regions in the future. Since there isn’t a universal approach for ensuring user safety, the implementation might vary depending on the region and specific experience.

A new law that is causing some upheaval

Last week, the recently implemented Online Safety Act mandates that individuals must verify their age prior to gaining access to mature content websites. However, many users express discontentment towards this adjustment and seek means to circumvent these requirements.

Some individuals have discovered a creative method to bypass the issue using Death Stranding’s photo feature. One approach for age confirmation involves sending a picture with an open mouth, so users are utilizing Death Stranding’s Photo mode to get a close-up of protagonist Sam Porter Bridges and capture him with his mouth agape for the required snapshot.

According to my coworker, Sean Endicott, the ease with which this age verification system can be bypassed indicates that it lacks strong security measures.

Given that this matter has come to our attention, there’s a chance that the image scans might be revised within the next few weeks to address this loophole and ensure it no longer functions.

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2025-07-28 21:09