One of the world's biggest gaming platforms will ask users to verify their age after Australia's online safety watchdog threatened multimillion dollar fines over concerns it was "becoming a playground for pedophiles".

Roblox announced plans to launch age-estimation technology on Tuesday, with checks initially available as a voluntary measure before they become mandatory for Australians in December.

The US firm said the changes would limit inappropriate conversations between children and adults on the platform.

But eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told ABC Radio the restrictions were only being introduced after its negotiations with Roblox, in which they were threatened with fines for failing to prevent harm.

"We'd been watching Roblox for a long time and had been concerned about

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