Starting next week, Australia will require all players to verify their age before accessing R18+ online games including Grand Theft Auto Online, marking a significant expansion of the government's digital age verification regime beyond adult websites.
PC Gamer reports that major gaming platforms will implement mandatory ID checks for any online game with an R18+ classification, affecting millions of Australian gamers.
The requirement extends the Online Safety Amendment's age verification provisions to cover interactive entertainment, not just passive adult content. Players will need to submit government-issued ID or use approved digital identity platforms to continue accessing mature-rated games.
Right, so we've gone from blocking porn sites to requiring ID checks for Grand Theft Auto. Because clearly the biggest threat to Australian children is teenagers playing video games their parents already bought them.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association has warned that the requirement creates significant privacy concerns and practical implementation challenges. Unlike websites that can simply geo-block Australia, gaming platforms have substantial Australian user bases they can't afford to lose.
Major platforms including PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam are reportedly scrambling to implement verification systems before the March 15 deadline. The requirement applies to both new and existing players, meaning current GTA Online players will need to re-verify their age to continue accessing the game.
Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, said the industry supports age-appropriate access to content but questioned whether creating "a permanent digital record of which games Australians play" was proportionate to the risk.
The eSafety Commissioner's office defended the expansion, noting that R18+ games contain "extreme violence, sexual content, and other material inappropriate for minors" and that verification requirements are consistent with restrictions on other adult content.
