YouTube announced an update to its policy regarding age restrictions for accessing content featuring "graphic violence," explicit depictions of physical violence that results in pain, injury, or death, in video games.
According to a Wednesday release by The Verge , the update, scheduled to take effect on November 17, 2025, will prevent account holders under 18 and logged-out users from watching videos featuring games featuring "realistic human characters" that involve scenes of "mass violence against non-combatants" or torture.
In implementing the restrictions, YouTube said it would consider the duration of the violent scene and whether it was exaggerated or the main focus.
YouTube will also evaluate whether the video features violence directed at characters who "appear to be real people."
In its announcement, YouTube did not clarify whether this policy applies to violence seen in games like Grand Theft Auto , Call of Duty sequences like the "No Russian" mission, or other types of realistically rendered scenes.
YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle said that certain content may be restricted based on the user's age if it is not shortened or enlarged.
He added that "there may be ways creators can choose to play the mission to avoid content that would lead to age restrictions."
Creators can also choose to blur the appearance of violence in video games played according to Bullwinkle.
