- New laws in the UK require face ID verification to access adult content.
- These laws are quickly spreading to apps like Spotify and even games.
- Rockstar’s internal GTA Online files suggest a similar facial ID verification system is heading to the game.
GTA 5 has sold around 200 million copies to date, and GTA Online is a major part of the game’s success. In fact, Take-Two and Rockstar have made billions of dollars from this part of the franchise over the last decade.
Although GTA Online remains incredibly popular to date and is expected to go through another new wave of players once GTA 6 arrives, it seems new laws will soon disrupt Rockstar’s magnum opus. According to a reliable insider, the studio is preparing to implement face ID verification for the game.
Why it matters: Many have spoken out against these requirements, deeming them closer to censorship than anything else. It seems, however, the new laws are being implemented at an incredible pace.
According to reliable insider Tez2, Rockstar has already made internal changes to GTA 5 that point to this change. In-game files point to messages like ‘Verify your age to access GTA Online,’ teasing the newly implemented age verification laws from the UK.
Although it remains unknown to what extent the team will pursue age verification and limit GTA Online for younger audiences, this change will certainly be a big one for the entire community.
Tez2 expects certain features like phone messages and Snapmatic to be restricted at the very least. However, it is entirely possible that this component of GTA 5 will be restricted entirely for younger gamers.
This also means that GTA 6 will likely require similar verification for its online mode. Although this update is set to roll out by region, face ID requirements might become common by next year.
For the unaware, age verification was recently made mandatory for viewing adult content in the UK. Since then, even apps like Spotify have followed suit, and many believe it is only a matter of time before such laws become widely adopted worldwide.
Of course, the gaming industry will also be impacted by such drastic changes in policies. GTA, in particular, could suffer due to its satirical nature and adult themes.
What do you think about Rockstar’s planned age verification? Do you think this is a positive step toward protecting younger gamers? Share your thoughts in the comments, or visit the Tech4Gamers Forums for more detailed discussions.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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