- Minecraft Age Verification is required for UK players to use chat without any restrictions.
- The age verification does not impact any prior purchases, worlds, or gameplay if you don't verify.
- This is done to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act.
Minecraft is rolling out a major safety-focused change, with the age verification becoming mandatory for players. Beginning in February, this is going live in the UK as a part of the game’s compliance effort with the UK Online Safety Act. However, if you still choose not to verify your age, you can still play, but with restricted access. So, check out this guide to know more about the changes and what is in it for you.
Minecraft Is Cracking down on Chat with Mandatory Age Verification, Starting With UK
According to the notice, a Minecraft spokesperson explains that all UK-based players with adult accounts must confirm that they are at least 18 years old. Those who skip the verification will temporarily lose access to the social features, including the chat, until the process is completed.
But there is no need to worry because this change doesn’t affect the previous purchases, entitlements, Minecraft achievements, or even your gameplay history. Neither does it affect the ability to play and buy other important stuff inside the game.
So, one common question that arises among the community members is how you are going to verify your age. A solution is also stated in the notice that you will be prompted to check your Microsoft account email for the verification instructions. The age verification is itself handled by Yoti, a third-party partner that uses industry-standard encryption.
Mojang stresses the point that no underlying personal data will be stored with them. Once the age verification is successfully done, the data will be deleted immediately.
From the community’s perspective, Minecraft age verification could subtly change how players interact, especially on the multiplayer servers, where chat is the main pillar of teamwork and collaboration. Some players see this as a slight friction, while others don’t have any issues with it.
For Minecraft, age verification is just starting to happen in the UK to comply with the Online Safety Act. However, it can also expand to other regions if regulators elsewhere adopt similar rules. We also see this change mirroring the path Roblox had already taken to introduce chat restrictions by age group.
That’s everything you need to know about Minecraft, introducing an age verification process for all UK players starting from February. What are your thoughts on this change? Tell us in the comments below.
It is a process requiring the UK adult Minecraft players to confirm they are above 18 to not restrict their chat and other social features in the game.
No, nothing inside the game, including purchases, online worlds, and achievements, will be lost if you don’t verify your age on Minecraft.
