This article was updated on April 21, 2026 by Andrea Trama with reference to the June 2026 deadline for the UK and Ireland. It was first published on April 20.
PlayStation will begin rolling out age verification measures later this year to comply with global regulations, according to a message from Sony Interactive Entertainment to PlayStation users worldwide. Users who fail or refuse to verify their age will be unable to access voice chat or messages from their PlayStation console.
Sony's age verification measure is the latest in a line of changes by gaming companies and regulators alike. In late 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) into state law, which would require all devices with an operating system to implement age verification when creating an account. Given AB 1043's broad scope within California, it would force Sony to add age verification to every PlayStation console that can access the Internet. AB 1043 takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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PlayStation to implement age verification later this year
Following news that platforms like Steam have implemented age verification measures in countries like the UK to comply with local laws, Sony said it will implement its own measures globally. Sony Interactive Entertainment has told some PlayStation users via email that it will implement age verification after 2026. However, Sony has stopped short of proposing a specific date for its age verification act. Users who fail or refuse to comply with the age verification requirement will be unable to use voice chat or messages on the PlayStation console until their information is verified. Sony said that this is a one-time check that will take a few minutes to complete, and that doing so will allow you to continue to access voice and text features already in place.
According to PlayStation's FAQ section for this announcement, age verification will roll out and take effect in June 2026. If not authenticated, users will lose access to the following features:
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messages
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Voice chat
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broadcasting
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parties
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Consolidation of disputes
However, the age verification measurement system from Sony stops short of a complete lockout of features. Sony added that access to PlayStation Store, trophies and other PlayStation services, including game play, will not be affected by any age verification measures. According to a ResetEra forum thread, Sony's email was received primarily by users in the UK and Ireland, with some users comparing it to the age verification measures Xbox implemented in those countries in late 2025. It's unclear how many other countries or regions will be affected by the rollout. Sony's age verification email notification reads as follows:
At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are committed to creating safe, age-appropriate experiences for players and families while respecting privacy and giving players and parents meaningful control over their gaming experience.
As part of our compliance with global regulations, you will need to verify your age later this year to continue using PlayStation communication features such as Messages and Voice Chat. If you don't verify your age, you'll still be able to access other PlayStation services, such as games, trophies, and the Store.
This is a one-time check and usually takes a few minutes. Completing this ahead of time will help you continue to use the communication features.
Age verification remains a controversial topic
The implementation of age verification measures has been a controversial and negative topic for gamers, to say the least. Earlier in 2026, when Discord announced it would implement age verification across the entire platform, some users responded by migrating to other voice chat apps and canceling their Discord Nitro subscriptions due to protests. Discord then announced that it would delay its age verification rollout to the second half of 2026, and said it would be more transparent about the process moving forward.
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Additionally, games like Roblox They have had problems with their own age verification measures, as users have said their chat histories have been deleted as a result. Given the negativity surrounding the state of age verification laws around the world, time will tell how Sony's plans fare in comparison.
