Xbox has introduced mandatory age verification for Australian users wishing to access games rated 18+ on the Xbox Store and the Microsoft Store on PC. Microsoft says the move, which began rolling out via email and in-app notifications, is required to comply with Australian regulations, and forms part of a wider international trend of governments imposing age checks on online content and services to protect children.

From late August 2026, adult Xbox accounts in Australia will need to verify their age to keep accessing 18+ rated apps and games, though titles already owned will remain accessible regardless. Verification options include email confirmation, submitting a credit card or government ID such as a passport or driving licence, or facial scanning via a selfie; how long an account has existed may determine whether simple email verification suffices. The approach mirrors steps taken by other platforms, such as PlayStation in the UK, amid a broader rise in age-verification laws across Australia, the UK and parts of the US—though critics warn such schemes raise privacy concerns, citing past data breaches at verification firms like IDMerit and Discord's Persona.