The EU is preparing further online age verification rules to protect minors, with online games included in the discussion. The unreleased "GTA 6" may therefore require some European players to prove their age in the future.
This proposed rule is linked to the EU's ongoing Digital Fairness Act, a project known as the "EU Kids Act." The currently circulating version no longer settles for users simply entering their date of birth, but requires certain platforms to verify users' real ages when creating specific accounts, aiming to restrict children's access to services and content deemed dangerous or inappropriate.
The document mentions "online games that may pose risks to minors," but the boundaries of this category remain unclear. The "GTA" series is typically aimed at adult players in Europe, so "GTA 6" could fall within its scope. However, it cannot be assumed at this stage that all players under 18 will be banned from accessing the game.
Existing practices in the UK already demonstrate the potential real-world impact of age verification. Xbox has strengthened related checks to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act; since September, some "Forza Horizon 6" players who have not completed age verification have reported being unable to use community features such as shared tunes, EventLab, gifts, and the auction house.
Microsoft initially focused on social features such as messaging and voice chat, but current explanations have expanded the restrictions to include certain content or features. Verification methods may vary by region, including selfie-based age estimation, bank cards, or ID documents.
The European Commission has developed an age verification scheme that allows users to prove they are above a certain age without providing full identity information to the services they access. The first version of this scheme was announced in 2025, and the European Commission is currently encouraging member states to establish reliable age verification mechanisms by the end of 2026.
Whether "GTA 6" will need to adopt such measures depends on the final submitted and approved text and its implementation details. What can be confirmed at this stage is that the proposed rules include online games in their considerations, and age verification may affect both game access and community features.