Discord Demands Face Scans, PlayStation Showcase Set

Discord will begin requiring age verification for its users next month, automatically setting all accounts to a teen-appropriate experience unless users can prove they are adults, according to The Verge. The platform's new policy, announced on Monday, will roll out globally in March.

The age verification process will restrict unverified users from accessing content deemed inappropriate for teens. Details on the specific methods of verification were not provided.

In other news, HBO Max is finally launching in the UK and Ireland on March 26th, six years after its debut in the US, as reported by The Verge. Until now, HBO content has been primarily available in the UK through Sky or Now TV. The cheapest tier will be available for a certain price.

Also, PlayStation announced its next State of Play showcase, scheduled to stream on February 12th at 5 PM ET, according to The Verge. The event is expected to last over an hour and will feature third-party and indie games heading to PS5, along with updates from PlayStation Studios.

In a different development, the origins of the popular game Animal Crossing were explored. The Verge reported that the game, one of Nintendo's biggest success stories, initially began as a dungeon crawler. "Animal Crossing, meanwhile, was born from loneliness," according to Keza MacDonald of The Verge.

Finally, a project involving 3D-printed whistles is gaining traction. The Verge reported that the whistles are designed to alert neighbors when they see ICE agents. "Whistles let neighbors alert each other when they see ICE agents abducting people," according to Sean Hollister of The Verge.