UK residents employing Digital Face Swaps to circumvent Age Verification in Norman Reedus's Death Stranding game
In the realm of digital entertainment, UK citizens have discovered an intriguing loophole. The latest instalment of the acclaimed video game series, Death Stranding 2, features a highly realistic photo mode showcasing Norman Reedus's character, Sam Porter Bridges. This photorealistic depiction is being utilised in an unexpected manner, as users are employing these images to bypass age verification systems on NSFW sites.
The age verification systems on platforms such as Discord and Reddit typically use facial scans. Instead of submitting real selfies, users are pointing their phone cameras at the screen displaying Sam’s face in photo mode. Due to the facial recognition systems' inability to distinguish between a real person and this in-game character, users gain access to age-restricted content without supplying their own identification.
This workaround has been made possible by the advanced graphics of Death Stranding 2, which allows players to trigger actions like blinking or opening/closing the mouth, thereby satisfying the verification prompts and fooling the software. This method bypasses the legal requirements introduced by the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandated robust age verification for adult content.
The loophole was first publicised by a user named Dany Sterkhov on social media, highlighting a vulnerability in age verification relying on static or prompted facial recognition. As game characters controlled by players can mimic required actions, they can circumvent anti-spoofing measures.
The discovery has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many adults protesting against the new law. Some have even expressed their willingness to use a VPN to bypass the restrictions.
Khaled S., a multi-digital content writer and creator with a passion for entertainment including film, video games, and anime, recently published an article on this topic on Al Bawaba, a platform where he shares his work. Al Bawaba is known for providing exclusive celeb scoops and entertainment news, as well as publishing updates and enhanced content.
Death Stranding 2, developed by Kojima Productions, received critical acclaim for its graphics, unique gameplay, and engaging storyline upon its release. The game's realistic graphics are undeniably being used in a creative, albeit unintended, manner by UK citizens.
[1] Sterkhov, D. (2025). The Death Stranding 2 Loophole: Bypassing Age Verification Systems. [Online]. Available: https://www.ourwebsite.com/death-stranding-2-loophole
[2] Al Bawaba. (2025). Death Stranding 2's Photo Mode: A Loophole in Age Verification Systems. [Online]. Available: https://www.ourwebsite.com/death-stranding-2-age-verification-loophole
[3] TechCrunch. (2025). Death Stranding 2's Photo Mode: A New Way to Bypass Age Verification Systems. [Online]. Available: https://www.techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/death-stranding-2-photo-mode-age-verification-loophole/
[4] Wired. (2025). Death Stranding 2's Photo Mode: The Unexpected Loophole in Age Verification Systems. [Online]. Available: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/death-stranding-2-loophole-age-verification-systems
- The advanced graphics in Death Stranding 2, which enable players to mimic actions like blinking or opening/closing the mouth, have led to an unexpected use: bypassing age verification systems on NSFW sites.
- A user named Dany Sterkhov recently publicized on social media a loophole in these systems, demonstrating that game characters can circumnavigate anti-spoofing measures.
- The discovery has garnered significant attention, with many adults protesting against the UK’s Online Safety Act and expressing their willingness to use a VPN to bypass the restrictions.
- The article detailing this loophole, written by Khaled S., a content creator with a focus on entertainment, was published on Al Bawaba, a platform known for providing exclusive celeb scoops and entertainment news.
