Katarzyna Petru
Rockstar is preparing for big changes in GTA Online – and not by their own choice. Due to new legislation regarding "digital safety" in the UK, the publisher has been forced to implement age verification mechanisms for players. For now, this only applies to the UK, but changes could quickly extend to other European countries. Data miner Tez2 and the RockstarIntel service have published screenshots from a menu that requires age confirmation before launching online mode. Players will see a screen asking for verification, and if they do not pass successfully – they will not enter the game.
ChooseTV and AI algorithms will verify your ID
Although we do not have an official statement from Rockstar yet, leaks clearly suggest that the verification will be based on submitting a photo of an ID. The entire process will be analyzed by a platform powered by artificial intelligence algorithms, integrated directly with GTA Online. This means that every player will have to prove their adulthood in order to continue using the online mode. This is the first time a major title enforces this type of security - and everything indicates it won't be the last.
Changes first in the UK, then across Europe?
New regulations currently apply only to players from the United Kingdom, but similar rules are also being prepared in France, Spain, Denmark, Greece, and Italy. This could mean that Rockstar is preparing a universal verification system for all of Europe. At this moment, it is unclear whether verification will also appear in GTA 6, but it is hard to imagine that the new installment of the series will avoid this revolution. Times are coming when logging into the game will require not only an email and password – but also a valid ID card.
