UK's Online Safety Act Prompts Game Studios to Reevaluate In-Game Features

The introduction of the UK's Online Safety Act has led game studios to reassess certain in-game features, according to a prominent law firm. In a recent interview, Isabel Davies, a senior associate at Wiggin, discussed how the new laws are impacting the gaming industry. The Online Safety Act, which came into effect in July 2025, aims to protect users from harmful content and promote transparency and accountability in online services. As a result, game studios releasing titles in the UK that include user-to-user interaction features must conduct a risk assessment and comply with the act's regulations. Davies noted that some studios are now reconsidering the implementation of such features or plan to introduce them after launch due to the new laws. The act's regulations have caught some companies off guard, particularly smaller studios, as there is no exemption for them. The regulatory burden is the same for all companies, regardless of size, and many are struggling to comply with the new rules.