Millions of gamers worldwide anticipate the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) on November 19, 2026, but players in Australia may need to present identification before playing. This stems from Australia's online safety laws, introduced in March, which heavily restrict online content, including video games.
According to Joshua Boyles, writing on July 9, 2026, GTA 6 has not yet received a rating, but it is expected to earn an R18+ classification due to its violent and criminal themes, typical of the Grand Theft Auto series. If rated R18+, Australian players would likely need to pass an online ID check to boot up the game, a requirement already in place for GTA Online in the country.
Rockstar Games faces significant financial penalties for non-compliance: fines of up to $49.5 million AUD if they fail to enforce the ID checks under Australian law.
Situation for UK Players
For now, UK players do not require ID to play GTA 6. Physical purchases are subject to the 'Think 25' retail policy, where ID is requested if the buyer appears under 25. Digital purchases are restricted only if the account age is set below 18.
However, the UK government is adopting policies similar to Australia's. The Labour government recently announced a social media ban for under-16s, effective next spring, which could impact gaming platforms like Discord. Additionally, PlayStation has made age verification mandatory for UK players under the Online Safety Act, restricting online services like messaging for unverified users. Yet, purchasing 18+ games remains unaffected for now.
For the moment, UK gamers can play GTA 6 without ID verification, but future regulatory changes may alter this.
