To adhere to the UK Online Safety Act, Microsoft has introduced age verification measures for Xbox users.

Microsoft has initiated an age verification system for Xbox users in the UK to align with the stipulations of the UK's Online Safety Act.

On July 28, Kim Kunes, vice president of gaming trust and safety at Xbox, explained in an Xbox Wire post how age verification is being deployed to meet the requirements of the new UK legislation designed to ensure online safety for both adults and children.

According to the announcement, as of today, Xbox users in the UK with accounts showing they are 18 or older, will receive prompts to validate their age when logging in with their Microsoft account, as part of Microsoft's compliance efforts with the Online Safety Act and their investment in secure, age-suitable experiences.

Though currently Xbox users can continue using the platform without age verification, by early 2026 it will become mandatory for those with adult accounts in the UK to confirm their age to access the complete set of social features such as voice chat and messaging.

For those who refrain from verifying their age, social features will be limited to interactions with friends until the process is completed, but their ability to purchase or play games, and their existing game history and achievements, will remain unaffected.

Xbox accounts can now be verified through Yoti, utilizing methods like government ID verification, age estimation, mobile provider confirmation, and credit card checks.

The notice continued to highlight Microsoft's ongoing mission to enhance player safety globally and learn from the UK’s implementation, with plans to extend age verification measures to more areas. Recognizing regional differences, Microsoft aims to design protection strategies suited to local needs while maintaining transparency and not compromising the Xbox gaming experience. Collaborations with local communities, publishing partners, and regulators will support this initiative as the company informs users about policy changes and data collection efforts to safeguard players.

Enforced in the UK as of July 25, 2025, the Online Safety Act mandates that services accessible in the UK are to be inherently safe, emphasizing a stronger protective measure for children compared to adults and ensuring transparency and accountability from service providers.

The video gaming sector falls under this legislation, necessitating adherence by game companies, though some smaller gaming enterprises are finding the requirements challenging.