Xbox UK Rolls Out Age Verification, Blocks Social Features for Kids
▼ Summary
– The UK Online Safety Act has been implemented despite nearly 400,000 signatures calling for its repeal, with companies like Discord and Xbox complying.
– Xbox now requires UK users aged 18+ to verify their age through methods like webcam estimation, ID verification, credit card checks, or mobile provider confirmation.
– Age estimation via Yoti is more effective on Xbox than Discord’s system, as tests showed it couldn’t be bypassed easily with video game character images.
– Starting early next year, UK Xbox users must verify their age to maintain full access to social features like voice chat and game invites, though gameplay remains unrestricted.
– Microsoft plans to expand age verification globally, adapting solutions regionally, with current verification options limited to PC or mobile, not Xbox consoles.
Microsoft has begun enforcing new age verification measures for Xbox users in the UK, restricting social features for unverified accounts as part of compliance with the Online Safety Act. The policy, detailed in an official Xbox Wire post, requires players aged 18 and older to confirm their identity through one of four methods: facial age estimation, ID verification, credit card checks, or mobile provider authentication.
Unlike Discord’s recent implementation of similar rules, which could be bypassed using in-game character photos, Xbox’s system partners with Yoti for facial analysis, making it harder to trick. Testing showed the verification process worked reliably with minor adjustments to lighting and positioning. While prompts currently appear as reminders, starting in early 2024, UK players must complete verification to maintain access to voice chat, messaging, and multiplayer invites.
Unverified accounts can still play games offline or solo but lose social functionality. Microsoft clarified that game age ratings remain unaffected, focusing solely on communication features. The company also hinted at expanding verification globally, tailoring approaches to regional regulations. For now, the process is limited to PC or mobile, no Xbox console integration exists, though the idea of Kinect-based verification sparked nostalgic amusement.
As governments push stricter online safety laws, Microsoft’s rollout signals a broader industry shift toward age-gating social interactions, with other regions likely to follow the UK’s lead. Players abroad shouldn’t expect exemptions indefinitely, as the company plans to adapt the framework internationally.
(Source: PCGAMER)
