Abstract:
The European Union is preparing online age verification rules to further protect minors, and online games have also been included in the discussion. "GTA6", which has not yet been released, may therefore require some European players to prove their age in the future.
This proposed rule is related to the EU's ongoing Digital Fairness Act, and the related project is called the "EU Kids Act." The currently circulating version is no longer content with letting users fill in their date of birth, but instead requires some platforms to verify the user's true age when creating a specific account to limit children's access to services and content deemed dangerous or inappropriate.
The document refers to "online games that may pose risks to minors," but the boundaries of this category have yet to be clarified. The "GTA" series is usually aimed at adult players in Europe, so "GTA6" may enter the applicable scope. However, at this stage, it cannot be concluded that all players under the age of 18 will be banned from entering the game.
Existing practice in the UK already reflects the practical impact that age checks can have. Xbox has stepped up checks to comply with the UK's Cyber Security Act; since September, some Forza Horizon 6 players who have not completed age verification have said they are unable to use community features such as shared tuning, EventLab, gifts and the auction house.
Microsoft initially mentioned social functions such as messaging and voice chat, but the current description has expanded the scope of restrictions to some content or functions. The methods of proof that can be used may vary from place to place, including self-portraits, bank cards or ID documents.
The European Commission has developed an age proof scheme that will allow users to prove that they are over a certain age without having to provide their full identity to the services they access. The first version of the scheme will be announced in 2025, and the European Commission currently encourages member states to establish reliable age verification mechanisms by the end of 2026.
Whether "GTA6" needs to adopt such measures still depends on the final submitted and approved text and its implementation details. What can be confirmed at this stage is that the proposed rules will take online games into consideration, and age verification may affect both game access and community functions.
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