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Sony’s PlayStation will require users in the UK and Ireland to verify their age to access key communication features, including voice chat and messaging, starting from June 2026. This change aims to enhance online safety and ensure compliance with new regulatory standards.
Mandatory age checks tied to communication features: The new requirement will affect PlayStation Network (PSN) users who use social and interactive tools. Users who do not complete age verification will lose access to features such as voice chat, text messaging, parties, groups, and some in-game communication systems.
Core gaming functions, including playing games, accessing the PlayStation Store, and earning trophies, will remain available. This change targets only the platform’s communication features.
How the age verification system works: Users can verify their age via multiple methods offered by a third-party provider, Yoti. These include:
- Facial age estimation using a selfie.
- Uploading government-issued ID (passport or driver’s licence).
- Mobile number verification via SMS code.
Sony states that personal data used during verification is processed securely and deleted after the process is complete.
Part of a broader “safer gaming” strategy: The introduction of age verification is part of an industry initiative led by Sony Interactive Entertainment, with Nintendo and Microsoft, to enhance player safety across platforms.
In a January 2026 blog post, Sony outlined a “shared commitment to safer gaming” based on prevention, partnership, and responsibility. This approach includes empowering parents with greater control, working with regulators and industry groups, and enforcing platform rules to ensure safety.
The company states that safety efforts combine “advanced technology, research-driven insights… and human oversight,” indicating that tools such as age verification are components of a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy.
Regulatory push behind the move: The introduction of age checks also supports stricter digital safety regulations, especially in the UK, where platforms must increasingly prevent minors from accessing harmful or inappropriate content online.
Gaming platforms, like social media services, face increasing pressure to demonstrate their ability to create “age-appropriate experiences” and provide safer online environments for younger users. This comes at a time when the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought new powers in Parliament recently to introduce measures to limit children’s exposure to addictive features on social media platforms, including setting a minimum age for access.
What it means for players: Players must now submit age-related data to maintain access to social gaming features. Those who do not verify will be able to continue playing but will have limited access to social features.
When enforcement begins in mid-2026, user response and compliance will shape how smoothly the transition proceeds for PlayStation’s online community.
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