PlayStation Mandates Document Verification for Social Features by June 2026

Sony is requiring UK and Ireland PlayStation Network users to submit identity documents to retain access to voice chat, messaging, and party features, with mandatory rollout by June 2026. Users who refuse verification can continue playing games but lose all social functionality. The requirement responds directly to the Online Safety Act 2023, which mandates age verification and age estimation to protect minors online. Microsoft is implementing identical Xbox requirements in 2026. Worth flagging: this marks gaming platforms' shift from three decades of self-regulated identity models to compliance-driven document verification systems.