Recent findings from a reliable industry source indicate that Rockstar Games may be preparing to introduce an age verification system to Grand Theft Auto Online. While it remains uncertain which players will be affected, UK users are expected to be the first impacted, following the country's implementation of new age verification legislation on July 25, 2025.

The UK has long considered implementing online age verification for adult content. In 2023, the Online Safety Act was passed, granting the government enhanced control over digital content. The subsequent age verification law requires users to confirm their age when accessing mature content online through various methods including photo ID, credit card verification, or AI-powered facial age estimation. However, early reports suggest these systems can be circumvented, as demonstrated by users exploiting Death Stranding's photo mode to bypass verification on platforms like Discord.

As numerous platforms and games comply with the UK's new regulations, Grand Theft Auto Online appears poised to join them. According to industry expert TezFunz2, Rockstar is developing "age assurance checks" for the game. While specifics remain undisclosed, players might need to verify their age to access certain features like in-game messaging, text chat, or Snapmatic. The rollout timeline and affected regions are still unknown, but with regular GTA Online updates, implementation could occur soon.

While an age verification system in GTA Online may spark controversy, Rockstar wouldn't be pioneering this approach. Recently, Xbox introduced a similar UK-based verification system requiring age confirmation for social features, with plans for international expansion. Activision has also implemented birthdate verification for Call of Duty titles, mandating parental consent for underage players to prevent account deletion.