Xbox is Leaving Behind Millions of Players Later This Month

Several Xbox console and PC users in Australia could be left unable to play specific games starting in late August, as Microsoft stated that a controversial age verification measure for specific games will go into effect by the end of the month. Despite recent stumbles that have affected the gaming industry, Xbox remains one of the most popular gaming brands across the globe.

Since 2025, several US states and countries have rolled out age verification measures to protect children from bad actors while online. In compliance with these laws and guidelines, companies such as PlayStation have started implementing age verification measures in countries such as the UK, which restrict unverified users from accessing features such as messages or voice chat. However, privacy advocates and gamers have criticized the implementation of age verification measures across games and apps, claiming that they leave sensitive information vulnerable to hackers and do more harm than good.

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Xbox Users in Australia Will Be Subject to Age Verification Soon

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Image via Microsoft

Image via Xbox

However, all Xbox users across Australia will soon have to take additional steps to buy and play some games. In early August, Xbox sent automated messages that stated all users must verify their age to play games with a restricted rating that were purchased on Microsoft’s PC and console storefronts. Though some users will undergo an email-based verification process, other methods such as a government-issued ID, a facial scan via a selfie, or a valid credit card can also be used for verifying a user’s age. Users who fail to verify will see access to Xbox apps and games restricted until the process is complete, which could affect millions of players across the country. Xbox stated that the move was done to comply with Australian law. A social media ban across Australia went into effect in December 2025, which prevents users under age 16 from making and using accounts on platforms like Facebook and TikTok.

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Currently, purchasing games that receive a restricted rating by the Australian Classification Board (ACB), such as R18+, usually requires a valid form of identification when buying at a retail store. For context, an ACB rating of R18+ is similar to the ESRB’s M for Mature and the PEGI 18+ rating used across North America and Europe, respectively. Xbox’s age verification rollout will go into effect months before one of 2026’s most anticipated open-world games hits store shelves worldwide.

Though it is currently not rated by the ACB, some online components of Grand Theft Auto 6 could be inaccessible in Australia and other nations due to the use of gambling and microtransactions throughout GTA Online. Given that GTA 5 was rated R18+ by the ACB upon release for its violent and sexual content, it is probable that GTA 6 will get a similar rating closer to the game’s November 19 launch.

While companies such as Discord have since delayed age verification rollouts due to mass user backlash, it is unlikely that Xbox will hit the pause button on its imminent rollout across Australia. It remains to be seen if Sony or Nintendo will follow Xbox’s lead in implementing any age verification measures to comply with Australia’s laws.

Source: Press Start