Xbox players in the UK now have to verify their age. (1 Viewer)

[Kennysplash]

Microsoft starts rolling out Xbox age verification in the UK

Xbox age verification will come to other countries soon, too.

www.theverge.com

"Starting early next year, age verification will be required for these players in the UK to retain full access to social features on Xbox, such as voice or text communication and game invites," explains Kim Kunes, vice president of gaming trust and safety at Xbox.

The question is, do you think Sony, Switch and co will follow suit? And why should ID be need for such a harmless activity?

 

[Matthew]

They will have to due to UK's online safety act. I don't support age verification for anything that requires you to upload your ID. Hoping this doesn't come to the US, but more than likely will.

 

[Daedalus]

It already has. I've had several things ask for me to upload my ID for age verification. It was even an option on one of the dating apps I use. I was like nope, not uploading that much personal information to the internet.

 

[Scorpion]

I think Sony and Nintendo will probably follow Microsoft's lead eventually - they usually do when it comes to safety regulations, especially in markets like the UK. The ID requirement seems excessive for basic gaming features, but it's likely driven by government pressure about protecting kids online. Still feels like overkill for voice chat and game invites though.

 

[Ravenfreak]

Unfortunately other gaming platforms will have to do this in order to continue selling games. And I can already see it coming to the US in the future, it's unfortunate. I really do not feel comfortable uploading an image of my ID to any platform like this because it can fall into the wrong hands if the servers are hacked.

 

[ShortieGamez]

I am torn with this one. As much as I am in agreement that companies do need to do more to protect young people who use their services, I am also not too happy about having to upload my ID to everywhere just to prove that I can have access to specific features.

I know this is happening in the UK due to the Online Safety Act, which again, I am in agreement with, and I am shocked it has taken them this long to implement it, and I do see it coming to other countries in time.