Australia’s March Online Safety Laws Require Age Verification To Play GTA VI Online

Australia’s new online safety laws, which came into effect in March, will require local users to show mandatory age verification to play Grand Theft Auto VI, especially to access the online multiplayer mode.

“GTA 6 players in Australia might need to use their real driver’s licenses to play the game thanks to the country’s new online safety laws”

Dexerto

The Australian says GTA 6 is scheduled for worldwide release on November 19 and that Australia will be among the first countries to play the release depending on when it is pushed live.

Dexerto

The Australian reports that Rockstar Games can face civil penalties of up to $49.5m per breach for non compliance, and that players will be blocked from accessing GTA’s online mode until they have provided ID and passed the verification system.

The Australian adds that the age verification system is already live for current GTA online players and is expected to carry over to GTA 6 when it launches late this year.

GAMINGbible says GTA VI players under the age of 16 will be exempt from the upcoming social media ban introduced by the Labour government in the UK.

GAMINGbible frames the issue around Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto series carrying an 18 age rating in the UK, and it notes that the next iteration of GTA Online won’t launch alongside GTA VI.

GAMINGbible

GAMINGbible quotes money and law expert Martin Lewis, tweeting: "It seems @DCMS is considering exempting online games from the U-16s social media ban,".

GAMINGbible also states that the under-16 social media ban is expected to be around spring in 2027 and says it is reportedly considering not including online gaming in the upcoming social media ban.

Dexerto says GTA 6 players in Australia might need to use their real driver’s licenses or other IDs to play because the country’s new online safety laws require IDs to play GTA 6.

“Read Today's PaperMind Games 7:31AM Thursday, July 9th, 2026 the australian plus * Life Aussies gamers will need a real drivers licence to play GTA 6 Aussie gamers will need a real driver’s licence to play when the most anticipating video game in history is soon released”

The Australian

Dexerto reports that Rockstar’s long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on November 19, 2026, and it says fans can already pre-order either a standard or Ultimate edition.

Dexerto adds that because Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely have a rating of R18+, Rockstar will be required to prove its users are adults, meaning providing IDs or actual real-world licenses.

Dexerto also says anyone in Tajikistan will be completely prohibited from playing after the country banned the franchise for ‘inciting crime’ and encouraging “murder, theft and violence.”