Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to be blocked for 27,000,000 people unless they submit to new identity verification technology

After a 13-year wait, Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to be released later this year, but millions of online gamers could find themselves locked out of the game.

In terms of hype, few video game releases have generated as much anticipation as GTA 6. 

The last installment was released back in September 2013, so fans have spent a long time waiting. 

Alongside the launch of GTA 6, fans are also expecting a brand-new GTA Online – but some people might struggle to join in. 

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Grand Theft Auto fans may need to sign up for new verification

With just months until its release, excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6 is at a high – some fans have even enlisted the help of drones to try and get a closer look into the offices of Rockstar Games to catch a glimpse. 

As well as the new single-player release, fans are anticipating the launch of a new version of GTA Online. 

The original GTA Online was launched shortly after GTA 5, and has been a way for fans to get their fix as they wait for the upcoming release. 

Rumors have suggested that, rather than an updated GTA Online, Rockstar will launch a whole new version, but it might not be available for everyone. 

Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021 has recently been updated so that residents cannot access adult material, including R-rated video games, unless they prove their age. 

The new rules have been introduced following the country’s social media ban for under-16s. 

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the verification methods could include photo ID, credit card checks, facial age estimation, or digital identity wallets. 

“Any platform that carries 18-plus content or adult content is required to use age assurance, and we leave that up to the businesses themselves, which gives higher level assurance of just self-declaration,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told the publication.

The crackdown includes GTA Online and, unless Rockstar went for a very drastic change for the upcoming version, would also cover the new iteration.

While many folks will be happy to prove their age to get to play the game, there are some out there who’d rather not due to privacy and surveillance concerns.

What can we expect from Grand Theft Auto 6?

Fans have waited more than a decade for Grand Theft Auto 6 – but what can they expect?

Well, as ever, Rockstar has decided to play its cards close to its chest. 

But creators have confirmed a return to Vice City and the introduction of a dual protagonist storyline featuring Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. 

Following a handful of delays, it’s scheduled to be released for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026. 

With most fans expecting a new GTA Online to follow. 

Back in 2024, Bloomberg reported that it’ll feature ‘a significant online mode, selling in-game content designed to generate revenue for years into the future’. 

Timeline of Grand Theft Auto

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