Xbox now requires Australians to prove their age to access games rated 18+, though "games you already own won't be affected"

Xbox is now asking users in Australia to verify their age before they're able to purchase games rated at 18+ on the Xbox Store on Xbox consoles, as well as the Microsoft Store on PC. "As part of our compliance program in Australia, beginning late August 2026, adult Xbox accounts must verify their age to be able to access apps and games rated 18+ on the Microsoft and Xbox Store," the message reads. "Access to such content may be restricted unless you verify your age. This is similar to how other services, such as PlayStation, have handled age verification in the UK. Australia, the UK and several US states have all recently implemented age verification requirements to access a variety of websites and online services.