Rockstar Games is getting ready to add age checks to GTA Online.
Because of the UK’s new Online Safety Act, websites and services like Reddit, Twitter (X), Xbox, and more must confirm that users are over 18 before showing certain content. Some gamers have joked that GTA 6 might be censored or even banned in some areas because of this law.
The law was passed in 2023 but only started this week. Already, it has been criticised for things like privacy issues. Other European countries are testing age checks before rolling them out more widely. These include France, Spain, Italy, and Denmark, with more expected later.
GTA Online and Age Restrictions
According to Rockstar Games insider and dataminer Tez2, Rockstar is working on adding age verification to GTA Online to follow the law. Tez2 says these checks will arrive soon, but no date has been given. The rollout will happen region by region depending on local rules.
You might need to pass an age check just to access GTA Online at all. Game files found by Tez2 include messages like:
- “Verify your age to access Grand Theft Auto Online”
- “You must meet the minimum age requirement to access GTA Online”
It could also be that only certain features will be locked behind the age check. Text found by Tez2 shows that the following features may require you to be over 18 and verified:
- In-game phone texts
- Snapmatic (in-game photo sharing)
- Text chat
How the Age Check Works
Players will be told to “Scan the QR code with your phone, or visit (website)” to complete the process. In the UK, this has meant either taking a selfie for AI to guess your age, or uploading a photo of an official ID like a passport or driving licence.
Some age check systems have been tricked using screenshots of game characters, but others are harder to fool. Many people have used VPNs to avoid the checks, and this has mostly worked so far—though it’s a constant game of cat and mouse, and not all VPNs will get around the restrictions.
