Death Stranding Photo Mode Being Used to Bypass Age Verification

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In light of the UK’s Online Safety Act, certain users have found a workaround for the age verification mechanisms established by platforms like Discord, using the photo mode feature in the game Death Stranding. By launching Death Stranding and capturing an image of Sam Porter Bridges, UK users have been able to mask their identities, thereby deceiving Discord’s age verification systems.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that since July 25, the UK’s Online Safety Act has been in full swing, mandating age verification for accessing mature content online. Before this became official, platforms like Discord had already been trialing their age-check systems in parts of Europe, including the UK, as early as April 2025. This system, called K-id, uses facial recognition or ID scans to confirm users’ ages, then promptly deletes any personal images or documents once verified.

However, this new legislation and its accompanying age checks have sparked controversy among users. Some are voicing concerns about privacy, as they question the handling and storage of the data collected under these new regulations.

Despite Discord stating they do not permanently store identifying information, some users have discovered methods to evade the regulations set by the Online Safety Act. As shared by PC Gamer, Twitter user Dany Sterkhov suggested that the Photo Mode in the game “Death Stranding” could be utilized to bypass K-id and access Discord’s age-restricted functions and channels as before. By taking a photo of the main character, Sam Porter Bridges, users can manipulate Sam’s mouth to open and close when requested during the age-verification process. Because Discord’s system does not save the photo data used for verification, it currently cannot verify which photos were used to bypass their checks using Sam’s face.

Death Stranding’s Photo Mode Can Bypass Discord’s Age-Checking Systems

A different Twitter user, GimmeBoss, stated that the same tactic applied by Dany Sterkhov is effective in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, since they utilized Sam’s photos to get past K-id’s checks. While Discord’s K-id process is only employed in specific areas, it has sparked criticism from privacy activists who deem the UK’s Online Safety Act too harsh and express concerns about the security of age-verifying companies. Despite Death Stranding‘s Photo Mode being used to sidestep age checks, some users have also opted for VPNs as a solution.

Through the use of a VPN to conceal their IP location, users can effectively appear to be from the same country where the VPN server resides, such as the United States. Meanwhile, in response to new age verification measures, digital marketplaces for PC games like Steam and itch.io are tightening regulations regarding what kinds of mature content they will permit.

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2025-07-27 01:35