PlayStation will begin implementing age verification measures to comply with global regulations sometime later this year, according to a message from Sony Interactive Entertainment to PlayStation users worldwide. Users who do not verify or refuse to verify their age will not be able to access voice chat or messages from their PlayStation console.
Sony's age verification measure is the latest in a series of similar changes made by gaming companies and regulators. 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 the broad scope of AB 1043 in California, it would likely force Sony to add age verification to every PlayStation console that has internet access. AB 1043 takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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PlayStation will introduce age verification later this year
Following reports that platforms such as Steam have introduced age verification measures in countries such as the UK to comply with local laws, Sony has said it will introduce its own measures worldwide. Sony Interactive Entertainment said in an email to some PlayStation users that it will introduce age verification sometime later in 2026. However, Sony did not offer an exact date for the age verification to be enacted. Users who fail or refuse to comply with the age verification requirement will not be able to use voice chat or messages on the PlayStation console until they verify their information. Sony said it was a one-time check that would only take a few minutes to complete, and that doing so in advance would still allow them to access voice and text features.
However, Sony's age verification measures will stop the system from being completely blocked. Sony added that access to other PlayStation services, including the PlayStation Store, trophies and gameplay, will not be affected by any age verification measures. According to a thread on the ResetEra forum, Sony's email was mostly received by users in the UK and Ireland, with some users comparing it to the age verification measures that Xbox will introduce in those countries at the end of 2025. It is unclear how many other countries or territories will be affected by the rollout. Sony's email notification about age verification 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. You'll still be able to access other PlayStation services like games, trophies and the shop if you don't verify your age.
This is a one-time check and usually only takes a few minutes. Filling it out ahead of time will help you continue to have access to the communication features when you want to use them.
Age verification remains a controversial topic
The introduction of age verification measures has been a controversial and negative topic for players to say the least. Earlier in 2026, when Discord announced it would introduce platform-wide age verification, some users responded by migrating to other voice chat apps and canceling their Discord Nitro subscriptions in protest. Discord then announced that it would delay the rollout of age verification until the second half of 2026, and said it would be more transparent moving forward.
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In addition, games like Roblox ran into trouble with their own age verification measures, with users reporting that their chat history was deleted as a result. Given the negativity surrounding the state of age verification laws around the world, time will tell how Sony's plans compare.
