According to a law firm, the Online Safety Act is prompting some studios to reconsider certain in-game features

According to a prominent law firm, game studios are reassessing certain features in their games in response to new regulations introduced by the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA).

In an interview on September 11, 2025, with The Game Business, Isabel Davies, a senior associate at Wiggin, a London-based law firm focusing on media and technology, discussed the implications of OSA on game developers.

The OSA, implemented in July 2025, establishes a regulatory framework in the UK to safeguard users, especially minors, from "harmful content." The legislation targets services with UK users, demanding increased transparency and responsibility from providers.

This affects user-to-user services, necessitating that video game developers offering chat or user interaction features conduct a risk assessment and fulfill specific duties to ensure compliance with the OSA.

Davies mentioned that several studios are now deliberating whether to integrate these interactive features or postpone them until after the game's initial release owing to the OSA requirements.

An example, she noted, is studios being cautious by first enhancing the core game monetization and gameplay before incorporating social features such as clans or chat services.

However, Davies highlighted that for some developers, community and social interactions are integral to their games, making such features almost essential.

She also pointed out that the lack of any "real exemption" for small companies surprises many under the new OSA regulations.

"The compliance demands are uniform, regardless of whether you are a major platform or a small startup," she noted.

"If you're providing a user-to-user service, comprehensive risk assessment and safety duties are mandatory. The process will become less burdensome as practices evolve, but adjustment has been challenging for some during this summer."

This sentiment was shared by Andrew Wailes, CEO and founder of PlaySafe ID, during a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz in July 2025.

"There is significant uncertainty around the implementation of the OSA within the gaming sector and beyond," Wailes remarked shortly after the act's enforcement.

He also mentioned that several smaller companies, especially those managing forums and community sites, have decided to restrict UK user access entirely.

"Many, particularly smaller firms, face challenges with understanding OSA compliance intricacies and have underestimated the resources required," he added.