PlayStation owners in the UK and Ireland will soon need to verify their age to retain access to certain communication features such as messages and voice chat.

In an FAQ on the PlayStation website, Sony said age verification is being implemented to comply with local laws and regulations.

Although not specifically mentioned, the news comes with the UK government in the process of implementing a new Online Safety Act that requires digital platforms to prevent children from accessing age-inappropriate content.

To comply with those regulations, Sony will require PlayStation account holders to confirm their identity by submitting a facial scan, relevant identity document, or completing a mobile phone age verification process.

Sony has tasked service provider Yoti with overseeing facial scanning certification and explained the company will delete personal geometry data as soon as verification is complete.

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Anybody who doesn't wish to verify their age will still be able to access and purchase products via the PlayStation Store and play games on their console.

They will, however, be unable to access a litany of PlayStation communication features and some third-party services such as Discord voice chat, Twitch, and YouTube (for broadcasting).

Sony also warned that unverified accounts might be prevented from sharing or uploading user-generated content in some titles. Prompted users will have until June 2026 to verify their age.