GTA 6 may roll out age verification amid new safety laws, says former Rockstar developer

The Grand Theft Auto 6 is all set to launch in May 2026. Now an online report suggests that Rockstar Games may be preparing to implement age verification systems in response to tightening global regulations—particularly the UK’s newly enacted Online Safety Act , which mandates strict age checks for adult content. A former Rockstar developer Obbe Vermeji recently shared his thoughts on the issue. In an exchange on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Vermeji said, “Not something publishers like to do, but they may not have a choice with the new laws in some countries & states.”


GTA 6 age verification: What may change for playersAs reported by insiders, Rockstar is already working on age verification for GTA Online , which could extend to features like in-game messaging and Snapmatic photo sharing. These systems may also be integrated into GTA 6 to ensure compliance with regional laws.

While some fans worry that added friction could hurt GTA 6’s performance, Vermeij remains optimistic. He acknowledged a potential dip in sales but emphasized that the franchise’s audience has matured. “My money would still be on 6 outselling 5 eventually,” he added.

Rockstar is not the first gaming studio to be working on age verification. Companies such as Xbox, Discord, and Spotify have already begun rolling out age verification tools to comply with the Online Safety Act. The gaming industry is clearly bracing for a new era of digital accountability.

With GTA 6 poised to be one of the biggest launches in gaming history, a few extra login checks likely won’t slow its momentum.