Microsoft is starting to roll out age verification prompts for Xbox players in the UK as part of its efforts to comply with the country’s Online Safety Act.
Beginning today, Xbox users who claim to be over 18 will be asked to verify their age when signing into their accounts.
To support this new requirement, Microsoft has partnered with identity verification company Yoti. While the verification process is currently optional, it will become mandatory in early 2026 when stricter provisions of the Online Safety Act come into effect.
According to Kim Kunes, vice president of gaming trust and safety at Xbox, players who do not complete the age verification by early next year will see limitations on social features like voice chat, text communication, and game invites. These features will be restricted to friends only until the verification is completed.
Importantly, age verification will not affect existing purchases, gameplay history, achievements, or access to games. Microsoft is encouraging players to complete the one-time verification process in advance to avoid future interruptions.
Players in the UK can verify their age using several methods, including a selfie, passport or driver’s license scan, credit card check, or mobile number.
If this article helped you, please consider supporting our work. Every small contribution keeps Abijita.com independent and running.
While the system is currently limited to the UK, Microsoft says it plans to expand age verification tools to more regions in the future, with regional variations in how the process will work.
