Single-player games might require age verification under EU Kids Act draft
Under the current draft of the proposed EU Kids Act, single-player games that rely on platforms like Steam for updates, distribution, or authentication may be required to implement mandatory age verification. This potential requirement was highlighted by Paul Diegel, a senior policy adviser to MEP Markéta Gregorová.
The European Commission's proposal aims to regulate how children under 15 access social media, AI chatbots, and online games. The draft suggests a tiered system for underage accounts and mandates age verification for all users to ensure compliance.
The core concern lies in the broad definition of "online games" within the current wording of the legislation. As Paul Diegel (assistant to MEP Markéta Gregorová) noted during a Stop Killing Games press conference, the draft could even affect single-player games because they connect to Steam for updates or distribution.
The European Commission's proposal states that online games include titles playable on computers, mobile devices, or consoles, regardless of whether the software is executed locally or remotely. This applies to games that are free, paid, or include in-game purchases. The sole exception in the current draft is for games accessible or purchasable exclusively through physical media without any online component for access or distribution.
At this stage, the EU Kids Act is only a proposal. It is expected that definitions will be refined during the legislative process. The final law may eventually focus on services that, similar to social media, allow children to interact with an indeterminate number of other users or view user-generated content.
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