GTA 6 Faces New Age Checks as Data Shows 71% of Players First Played as Minors

Jason and Lucia in GTA 6 (Image Credit: Rockstar Games)

GTA 6 isn’t just set to be one of the biggest game launches in history — it’s also going to drop into a much stricter online environment in the UK. Thanks to the Online Safety Act, Rockstar may need to rethink how the game’s online features work, especially when it comes to younger players.

The game has always carried an 18+ PEGI rating, but real-world player data paints a different picture. As noted by The Telegraph’s Matthew Field, a 2023 YouGov poll revealed that 71% of GTA players first played the series as minors — breaking down to 2% under age 7, 18% between 7–11, 36% between 12–15, and 15% between 16–17.

That means the majority of the fan base first experienced GTA well before the recommended age, often through older siblings, friends, or parents who simply didn’t enforce the rating.

This data directly feeds into some major debates surrounding GTA 6’s release:

• Regulation Angle – With most players accessing GTA before turning 18, campaigners say this is clear evidence for stricter age verification under the Online Safety Act. The law requires companies to protect minors from “serious violence” and other harmful content when online features are involved. GTA Online, with its open-world player interactions, falls squarely into that category.

• Parental Responsibility Debate – The numbers highlight the wide gap between the game’s adult rating and how it’s actually consumed. Critics say parents must take more responsibility, while others argue companies like Rockstar should do more to prevent underage access.

• Policy Contradiction – The UK government has given Rockstar Games UK over £350 million in tax relief since 2020 to support development, yet the bulk of the series’ player base first experienced it illegally as children. That tension isn’t going unnoticed in policy circles.

The Online Safety Act’s scope covers “user-to-user” features — meaning voice chat, messaging, and custom content in GTA Online could all be subject to extra safeguards. While smaller studios fear the compliance costs, Rockstar is large enough to absorb them, but the rules could still lead to stricter logins or age checks for UK players.

And it looks like Rockstar is already working on it. According to Tez2, a reliable GTA leaker, the developer is getting ready to introduce age verification in GTA Online. He even shared a snippet from the game’s files showing messages warning players they’d be blocked from using certain features if they didn’t verify their age. While he didn’t specify which regions would be affected first, he did confirm that the UK will definitely be the first in line.

Interestingly, the debate over age access comes at a time when financial institutions are targeting adult-themed games. Payment processors like Visa and Mastercard have pressured platforms like Steam and itch.io to drop titles with controversial content. According to retro game storefront ZOOM Platform, the list of “potentially at-risk” games discussed in these circles has included Grand Theft Auto, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row. While this doesn’t mean GTA 6 is under immediate threat, it adds another layer of uncertainty to its online and retail future.

On the flip side, some markets are becoming more open to the franchise lately. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE approved GTA 5 last month (though with a 21+ rating), and reports suggest GTA 6 could launch there on day one without major hurdles.