Steam introduces age verification for mature game pages in the UK

Steam has begun requiring UK users to verify their age in order to access store pages for games containing mature content. The change appears to have taken effect on Friday, after users noticed updates to Steam’s FAQ referencing the new rule.

The verification process is relatively simple: UK players only need to register a credit card to their account. Those who already have a card linked will not face additional restrictions.

This move comes ahead of the UK’s upcoming Online Safety Act, which will hold online platforms accountable for preventing children from accessing harmful or age-inappropriate material. The law also requires platforms to provide parents and children with clear reporting tools.

Other gaming platforms have been making similar adjustments. Earlier this year, Xbox and Discord began encouraging users to verify their age for certain features and content. Starting in early 2026, Xbox will require UK players to confirm their age to maintain full access to social features such as voice and text chat and game invites.

“As this age verification process rolls out across the UK, we’ll continue to evaluate how we can keep players around the world safe and learn from the UK process,” Xbox said in a statement. “We expect to roll out age verification processes to more regions in the future.”