Sony will require age checks in the UK and Ireland to access PlayStation communication features

Sony is adopting new age verification https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/account/age-verification-faq/" target="_blank">policies for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland.

The company isn't making this a blanket requirement, but steps to confirm age will be needed to access "communication, broadcasting, and certain in-game features" beginning in June 2026.

That includes essentials for online and social gamers, such as joining a party, voice chatting, text messaging or using third-party chat programs such as Discord.

Some in-game communication tools, like chats or sharing user-generated content, will also only be available after an age check is completed.

Although the new requirements will not be enforced until summer, users are already being https://www.reddit.com/r/playstation/comments/1sqsxg3/uk_get_ready_to_verify_your_age/?solution=b0dc5ec4e2d71fc3b0dc5ec4e2d71fc3&js_challenge=1&token=bbbe4bf1c9a2b5160829c4be34da586194a7b87360274120a2a0be019b70e86f" target="_blank">prompted to get the verification process squared away.

Several states and countries began adopting this type of legislation in 2025, pushing restrictions as a way to protect children and teens from inappropriate content.

It seems the trend will be continuing into this year, despite the https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-year-age-verification-laws-came-for-the-open-internet-130000979.html" target="_blank">concerns about privacy risks and new questions about whether these restrictive laws https://www.engadget.com/social-media/majority-of-australian-kids-are-still-on-banned-social-media-platforms-study-finds-162922768.html" target="_blank">are even effective at their stated goals, but companies have still been moving to comply.

Discord was one of the more notable gaming-centric services to https://www.engadget.com/social-media/discord-will-soon-require-age-verification-to-access-adult-content-140000218.html" target="_blank">begin age verification policies last year, although the company did walk back some of its initial plans at the start of 2026 in order to https://www.engadget.com/social-media/discord-delays-age-verification-to-address-user-concerns-205500482.html" target="_blank">better protect users' personal data and their anonymity.

Roblox also began https://www.engadget.com/gaming/roblox-begins-asking-tens-of-millions-of-children-to-verify-their-age-with-a-selfie-120000311.html" target="_blank">requiring age checks and https://www.engadget.com/gaming/robloxs-age-verification-system-is-reportedly-a-trainwreck-220320016.html" target="_blank">those results were not great.