PlayStation age verification has begun rolling out across the UK and Ireland, with full implementation to be in place by June, according to a PlayStation age-verification mini-site.
Eurogamer’s Dom Peppiatt was prompted to verify their age yesterday evening. “Age verification is required to access certain features on PlayStation,” an update screen read. “Verify your age to access all PlayStation features and get the most out of your experience.”
“Um I’ve got a photocopy of my passport if that’s okay?”
Age-verification can be done with a facial scan or by supplying ID, or by using your mobile number. Note, certain methods might not be available in all countries or regions. There’s more information about these methods on the PlayStation mini-site FAQ section.
I checked my PlayStation 5 this morning, incidentally, and didn’t see any age-verification prompts or associated updates. Perhaps it’s because it can sense my rapidly greying hair.
Sony and PlayStation are the latest in a long line of gaming-related services being updated to require age-verification in the UK, as commanded by the Online Safety Act which came into effect last summer. Steam requires age-verification, Xbox requires it, Discord requires it, Nexus Mods requires it, and Nintendo is expected to require it soon.
The Act is designed to help protect younger people from online harm, but its cumbersome implementation might be a double-edged sword for game-makers, especially smaller ones, as Ed found out when he investigated the ins and outs of the Online Safety Act last year.
