Xbox Will Require Age Verification for R18+ Store Content in Australia

Xbox is preparing to roll out age verification for adult accounts in Australia later this month, with the change affecting access to R18+ games and apps on the Microsoft Store and Xbox Store across console and PC.

According to Press Start, Microsoft has begun notifying users that adult Xbox accounts will need to verify their age to access 18+ rated content. Games and apps users already own won’t be affected, based on the message sent to players.

The notification says the rollout is part of Microsoft’s compliance program in Australia. The requirement lines up with Australian age-gating rules for online gaming and digital content, which are outlined in more detail by Addisons.

Verification will reportedly be handled by VerifyMy, a London-based age assurance company. Players will be able to confirm their age through email, a facial age estimate, a credit card, or a government-issued ID.

Australia isn’t the first region where platform holders have tightened age checks. Microsoft introduced Xbox age verification in the UK last year in response to the Online Safety Act, while Sony and Valve have also added similar checks for PlayStation and Steam users in the UK.

For Australian Xbox players, the practical change is simple: if you want to keep accessing R18+ games and apps through the store, you’ll need to complete verification once the rollout begins. Existing purchases should remain playable without it.