Sony rolls out age verification for PlayStation users in UK and Ireland

PlayStation age checks have already started showing up for some users in the UK and Ireland, and Sony’s message is blunt: adult accounts that skip verification will still be able to play, but some features will be locked until the check is done. The company says the change will be fully in place by June 2026, turning what looks like a one-time prompt into a new gate on everyday account use.

Sony says the verification applies to adult accounts registered in the UK or Ireland and only needs to be completed once per account. The available methods include a mobile number, a facial scan or an ID upload, with the process handled through Yoti. On screen, players are told that verification is needed to get the most out of the service, which makes the stakes clear for anyone who expects uninterrupted access to PlayStation features beyond basic play.

The rollout is not limited to adult profiles. Sony’s UK and Ireland family-management page says adding an existing child account to a family is currently only available in those two countries, and parents may be asked to verify their age before they can proceed. That puts the new system directly into family setup, not just storefront browsing or social features, and it means some households will run into the change before they ever hit a game launch.

The timing also fits a wider UK compliance push. Ofcom says the Online Safety Act introduced robust age-check rules, with its Protection of Children Codes and Guidance published in April 2025. Platforms likely to be accessed by children had to complete a risk assessment by 24 July 2025 and take action from 25 July 2025. The UK government says the law received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, and Ofcom can fine non-compliant providers up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or, in serious cases, seek court blocking orders.

For players, the immediate concern is not just convenience but data. Open Rights Group has warned that the Online Safety Act has pushed people toward age-assurance services that still raise privacy and freedom-of-expression worries. That tension is now landing inside one of gaming’s biggest ecosystems, where the prompt is already appearing for at least some accounts and the next few months will decide how normal age verification feels on PlayStation in the UK and Ireland.