Starting Friday, the UK has enforced strict online safety rules requiring platforms to implement mandatory age verification for users. While it's no secret that VPNs can easily circumvent these checks, a surprising new method has emerged: using Death Stranding's photo mode!

Dany Sterkhov revealed this ingenious trick that has taken the gaming community by storm. By leveraging the game's photo mode, players have found a way to convince face-scanning technology on platforms like Reddit and Discord that they are of legal age. The process is shockingly simple: just open Death Stranding, activate the photo mode, and capture the game's protagonist, Sam Bridges, looking directly at your camera.

In a personal experiment, I tested this on Discord's k-ID face verification. The system prompted me to perform a simple task: open and close Sam's mouth. I complied using the game's facial expression tools, and moments later, I was verified! Next, I tried it on Reddit, which uses the Persona verification service. This time, I just had to maneuver Sam’s face around, and again, I was in within seconds. It was astoundingly easy!

While Discord and Reddit's facial verification tools were completely fooled by virtual Sam Bridges, I did encounter some resistance with Bluesky, which uses the Yoti service. Unfortunately, this method didn't work there, highlighting that not all age verification systems are created equal. It's noteworthy that Yoti also plans to implement facial age estimation technology for platforms like Instagram, catering to those needing to prove they are over 18.

This clever bypass not only allows gamers to confirm their age across various services without revealing their personal info or paying for a VPN but also ensures privacy by avoiding unnecessary third-party interactions. With just a gaming console and a camera, the complexities of age verification might just be a thing of the past!