Sony introduces age verification for PS4 and PS5, compliant with UK online safety laws.

Sony has begun complying with the UK's Online Safety Act , introducing age verification for PlayStation users. PS4 and PS5 users in the UK and Ireland will need to complete age verification to access certain features starting in June 2026.

Age verification frequently asked questions (UK)
https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/account/age-verification-faq/

PlayStation's age-gating restrictions are coming to UK consoles | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/915448/sony-playstation-age-verification-uk-messaging-voice-chat

The Online Safety Act imposes new safety obligations on social media companies, search engines, messaging apps, game apps, dating apps, porn sites, and file-sharing sites, requiring them to protect users from illegal content and activities, and to protect minors by implementing age verification. In conjunction with the implementation of the Online Safety Act, a wide range of sites and apps, including message board-style social media platforms like Reddit and Bluesky , and major porn sites like Pornhub , have introduced age verification that requires users to submit facial photos.

The UK has also started mandating age verification for internet service users, leading to a 1400% increase in VPN service subscribers - GIGAZINE

Sony has updated its PlayStation support page, adding a notice and Q&A titled 'Frequently Asked Questions about Age Verification.' The notice states, 'Starting in second half of 2026, some features will be required for adult accounts in the UK and Ireland. If you are prompted to verify your age, we recommend that you complete the verification process to avoid service interruptions in second half of 2026.'

According to the Q&A, the following features may become unavailable until age verification is complete:

- Console, PlayStation apps, and web communication features
• Voice chat
Text chat, messaging
- Participation in parties and group sessions
• Connected communication or third-party communication experience
・Discord voice chat
• Broadcasting and sharing functions
- Stream gameplay on YouTube and Twitch

Furthermore, some games that offer their own communication tools or user-generated content (UGC) features may disable in-game functions such as in-game chat or messaging, and sharing or uploading user-generated content if age verification is not completed. The specific functions affected will vary depending on the game.

Age verification is provided by Yoti , a company that offers identity verification systems to many government agencies and businesses. Players can choose from options such as mobile phone number, facial recognition, or identification documents. Players under 18 must use an account managed by a parent or guardian.

The introduction of age verification on PlayStation is similar in terms of restricted content and verification procedures to Microsoft's introduction of age verification on Xbox in the UK in July 2025. Ofcom , the UK's regulatory body for communications and broadcasting, has announced plans to publish a court report on age verification under the Online Safety Act in July 2026, so it is expected that more apps and services will introduce age verification in the future.