In the first part of this year, the UK’s Online Safety Act mandated changes for digital platforms such as Steam and Itch.io, requiring them to either ban or conceal specific types of adult content, with Steam implementing an age verification process for accessing such content. The same legislation has prompted Xbox to introduce age verification from next year for utilizing certain social features. It seems that game developers are now reconsidering the way they implement online aspects in their games, and some studios are reportedly contemplating removing specific “peer-to-peer” functionalities.
The Game Industry recently had a conversation with Isabel Davies, a lawyer at Wiggin, a firm specializing in media, technology, and intellectual property law, about the impact of increasing online safety regulations on game development. Davies emphasized the significance of conducting thorough risk assessments related to children’s exposure to potentially harmful content, suggesting straightforward measures such as avoiding suggestions for users to add unknown individuals as friends or allowing messages from strangers as possible solutions.
Davies mentioned that some studios the law firm has engaged with are evaluating whether user-to-user modes are worth the financial commitment. Davies added, “I’ve already spoken to a few who are exploring this,” and also noted that some studios are saying, “We might invest, but probably not at the initial launch.” To clarify, these studios plan to focus on establishing the game’s core monetization system and ensuring its gameplay quality first. Once those aspects are solidified, they will then consider investing in features such as clan functionality or chat functionality.
As a gamer myself, I’ve come across titles where the communal and social aspects are essentially woven into the very fabric of the game. It’s not something you can easily sidestep; these games were designed with this spirit at their core.
Davies pointed out that several studios have already incorporated much of Wiggin’s advice into their practices, and often the challenge lies in properly documenting these protective measures or making minor adjustments to player interaction. For many, this might not represent a significant transformation. However, she underscored the importance of understanding that “The need for online safety is here to stay.
The European Union (EU) is currently developing the Digital Services Act, a regulation reminiscent of the Online Safety Act in the UK, while some American states have already legislated on access to adult content. This could imply that further modifications might be necessary in the upcoming days.
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2025-09-11 18:09