EU Kids Act draft could require age verification for single-player Steam games, MEP adviser warns

The European Commission has proposed new rules governing how children under 15 access online services including social media, AI chatbots, and video games. The draft EU Kids Act would require mandatory age verification for all users on affected platforms, enforced through a tiered account system.

Under the proposal's current wording, the definition of "online games" is broad enough to capture single-player titles that rely on online infrastructure. Paul Diegel, senior policy adviser to European Parliament member Markéta Gregorová, highlighted this concern at a press conference hosted by the Stop Killing Games campaign. He noted that single-player games would be caught by the rules "because they're connected to Steam for updates."

The Commission's draft defines online games as any title playable on computers, mobile devices, or consoles where the software is "subsequently executed locally, remotely, such as by means of durable medium." This definition applies regardless of whether the service is free, paid, or uses in-game purchases. The lone exception covers games "accessible or purchasable exclusively through physical media, without any online component enabling their access, distribution, or purchase."

Under this language, a single-player offline game sold through Steam would qualify as an online game subject to age verification requirements, since the platform handles distribution and updates. Even games with minimal online connectivity could fall into scope.

The EU Kids Act remains in proposal stage. Legal experts and industry observers expect the definition of "online games" to be refined during the EU's legislative review process. A narrowed definition could eventually limit the rules to games with social features or multiplayer connectivity that mirror social media platforms, rather than affecting all titles with any online component.

The Commission released the proposal documents publicly following its official announcement by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.