July 22, 2025, 3:28 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
“Call of Duty” is one of the most successful video game series of all time, with countless fans worldwide. The realistic skirmishes captivate players of all backgrounds—and nearly every age group. However, this is a problem because the bloody firefights are not suitable for minors. Nevertheless, children who fire off insults in voice chat with prepubescent voices like machine-gun bursts have long been an internet curiosity and meme factor. Now, a new age verification in “Call of Duty” presents this part of the player base with a (likely not very difficult) choice: lie or ask mom and dad for permission?
New Age Verification for “Call of Duty” Launched
Anyone who has recently launched one of the newer installments of the well-known series has likely encountered the new age verification in “Call of Duty.” Upon starting, a screen appears asking for the birth date. This is intended to “ensure a positive community experience for all players.”
A corresponding post was also published by “CharlieIntel” on X, which included an official statement from publisher Activision. However, it essentially repeats its own notice, stating that the game account must be updated with the respective information. “Call of Duty” is rated for ages 17 and up in the U.S., while in Germany, the individual installments are generally rated for ages 18 and up.
Account Closure After 4 Months
Without entering a birth date, players cannot proceed. However, those who are honest and reveal themselves to be too young must obtain parental consent. They have about four months to do so, as a screenshot of the relevant notice screen reveals. If the request is not fulfilled within this period, the game profile will be deleted.
Activision does not verify the authenticity of the information. So, anyone who simply enters a false date should be able to continue without issue. Those who wish to proceed correctly face the next problem: How exactly should parental consent be submitted?
State dating app in Japan requires income and “willingness to marry”
The 4 Best Strategy Games for Complex Battles
Instagram Account Hacked? Here’s How to Recover It
Confusion Over Parental Consent
This question was already raised by a user on Reddit. The notice screen provides no instructions on this matter. Scanning the QR code only leads to the Activision site, where users can log in with their profile. According to a response, this is exactly what should be done—even though the account should technically be locked at this point.
After logging in, users are directed to another page with a form that must be completed. Additionally, another email address must be provided, to which a request will be sent. This must be clicked, and then permission is granted to the account linked with Activision.
Even with these steps, there currently seems to be no way to verify the authenticity of the information. Theoretically, a minor could simply complete this process themselves. Accordingly, this measure is met with ridicule and scorn in the comments. Why the new age verification in “Call of Duty” is active remains unclear. At “Gamespot,” it is speculated that the creators are merely fulfilling a legal requirement.