Sony is rolling out age verification measures for PlayStation users in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland to comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act. The new requirements impact both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners. Starting June 2026, users who do not complete the verification process will lose access to various social features like voice chat, messaging, parties, and other third-party communication tools. While gameplay itself will not be affected, certain functionalities will be limited until users confirm their age, as stated in a recent support communication from Sony.
Additionally, age verification will be mandatory for broadcasting gameplay or streaming content to platforms like YouTube and Twitch directly from the console. Sony has teamed up with Yoti to handle the verification process for users in the UK and Ireland. Players have multiple options to confirm their age, including submitting a mobile number, completing a facial scan, or providing official identification.
This initiative aligns with Microsoft’s actions, as they introduced similar age verification requirements for the Xbox platform in the UK last year, also utilizing Yoti for verification services. Under Microsoft’s system, users must be over 18 to maintain full access to social features such as voice and text communication, along with game invitations.