Rockstar Games is reportedly setting up age verification checks for GTA Online and upcoming GTA 6, according to leaks from well-known dataminer Tez2.
GTA Online and GTA 5 currently have an 18+ rating, but there has been no strict system preventing underage players from accessing the game. They often use accounts created or purchased by adults. That could soon change.
You can check out the original leak here:
GTA VI Age Verification, What Does It Mean
The new age assurance system is supposed to be rolling out regionally. It follows the new UK Online Safety Act, that has been pushing for stricter age verification on online platforms.
Tez2 revealed GTA Online’s game files, hinting at this new system being slowly added. Players may soon be required to verify their age to access GTA Online. Certain features such as phone messages, text chat, and Snapmatic photo sharing might be locked until you verify your age.
It is still unclear if GTA 6 will require these new age checks. If it is integrated into GTA 5, chances are GTA 6 will get it too. Rockstar has not officially commented yet, but we can probably expect more information soon.
This move does fit with the current internet trends in the UK and beyond, where platforms from social media to adult websites are implementing age verification, all under the pretext of “protecting younger users”. It does come from a genuine place, but the reality is that nothing really stops kids from borrowing a parent’s ID to bypass these systems. And if AI-based age detection is involved? That opens up a bunch of other problems.
What if You Just Look Too Young?
One potential issue with age verification via AI? It is not exactly reliable. Some adults, especially those who look younger than their age, could get flagged as underage. Imagine being over 30 and locked out of GTA Online because the system thinks you are skipping high school math class!
Meanwhile, 16-year-olds with full beards might pass right through. It is already happening in stores that test AI age checks, and most still end up asking for ID because the tech just can’t tell. Turns out, guessing someone’s age from their face is hard, even for humans.
