Editorial illustration for UK PlayStation users must verify age by June 2026 or lose social features
UK PlayStation Users Must Verify Age or Lose Access
Gaming is about to get a little less social for UK PlayStation users, unless you prove who you are. By June 2026, Sony will lock down voice chat, party invites, and any ability to stream your gameplay to YouTube or Twitch unless you verify your age. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a hard line.
Working with the same identity firm Microsoft already uses, Sony will let you confirm your age via mobile number, face scan, or ID. The trigger? Britain’s Online Safety Act, now tightening its grip on how platforms treat underage users.
You can still play. You just can’t connect. And if you wait until the deadline, you’ll lose features instantly, so early verification isn’t optional, it’s smart.
You'll need to verify your age by June or lose access to PlayStation social features. "Beginning June 2026, if you have not completed age verification, you can continue playing on PlayStation, but some features won't be available until you verify your age," says Sony in a support note. Age verification will also be required for broadcasting features or sharing gameplay to YouTube or Twitch from a PlayStation console.
Sony has partnered with Yoti to handle age verification in the UK and Ireland, and you can verify using a mobile number, face scan, or ID. Sony's restrictions on social features are similar to how Microsoft rolled out age verification on Xbox last year. Microsoft also uses Yoti to verify age in the UK, and Xbox players need to be over 18 to retain full access to social features like voice or text communication and game invites.
While Sony won't be requiring age verification for UK and Ireland PlayStation accounts until June, you can verify early and avoid losing access to features. Both Microsoft and Sony are making age verification mandatory in the UK as more parts of the Online Safety Act come into force this year.
The clock is ticking. By June 2026, every UK PlayStation user must choose: verify your age or lose the social fabric of the console, voice chat, game invites, broadcasts, all of it. This isn’t a minor settings tweak.
It’s a fundamental shift in how digital accountability works under the Online Safety Act. Sony and Microsoft are now locked in lockstep, both leaning on Yoti’s verification tech to draw a hard line. For players, the decision is immediate.
You can verify now, with a mobile number, a face scan, or ID, and keep your full experience intact. Or wait, and watch your console go quiet. The message is blunt: playtime is no longer anonymous.
The proof of who you are is part of the game now.
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Common Questions Answered
What social features will be restricted for UK PlayStation users who don't verify their age by June 2026?
Users who do not complete age verification will lose access to party chat, friends lists, trophy sharing, and broadcasting features like sharing gameplay to YouTube or Twitch. While core gaming functionality will remain available, the social communication tools will be blocked until age verification is completed.
How will PlayStation handle age verification for UK users starting in June 2026?
Sony has partnered with Yoti, an age verification service, to manage the verification process for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland. Users will need to complete an age verification check by June 2026 to maintain full access to social features on their PlayStation console.
What is the legal context behind PlayStation's new age verification requirement?
The age verification mandate is directly linked to the UK's Online Safety Act, which aims to enhance digital safety and protect younger users from inappropriate online interactions. This requirement ensures that PlayStation aligns with the government's broader efforts to implement stricter age-related protections in digital platforms.
