Age Verification, Russia Ban & New Records

Roblox — the global gaming platform where millions of creators build and millions more play — has had a dynamic end to 2025 and a headline-packed start to 2026. Let's dive into everything that's happened.

1. The Age-Verification Revolution: What Changed and Why

The biggest story of this period is undoubtedly Roblox's mandatory age verification system, which started rolling out in late November and became fully global in January 2026. This isn't just another minor update—it's being called the gold standard for communication safety in online gaming.

On November 18, 2025, Roblox announced it would become the first major online gaming platform to require facial age checks for all users who want to access chat features. The system uses facial age estimation technology, where users move their head left and right in front of their device's camera. The AI processes the image to estimate the user's age, then immediately deletes all photos and videos. No data is stored, which addresses privacy concerns that many parents have about biometric systems.

Starting in early December, the rollout began in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. By January 7, 2026, the requirement went global, affecting all regions where chat is available. According to Roblox's data, over 50% of daily active users in the initial test markets had already completed their age checks—a surprisingly high adoption rate that suggests users understand the importance of these safety measures.

Here's how it works in practice: once you complete the age check, you're assigned to one of six age groups: under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, or 21+. You can only chat with people in your own age group or adjacent groups. The system specifically prevents adults from directly messaging children under 16, which addresses one of the platform's most serious safety concerns.

For users under 9, chat is turned off by default unless parents provide explicit consent after completing their own age check. Users aged 13 and up can choose ID verification as an alternative method if they prefer not to use facial scanning. The system also includes appeal processes for anyone who believes their age was incorrectly estimated—the AI has a mean absolute error of just 1.4 years for users under 18, according to independent testing.

This move didn't happen in a vacuum. Roblox currently faces almost 80 lawsuits and regulatory actions in the United States related to child safety concerns. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in early November, accusing the platform of "flagrantly ignoring state and federal online safety laws while deceiving parents about the dangers of its platform." Two Florida families also filed separate lawsuits claiming their young daughters were groomed and sexually exploited through the platform. Florida officially sued Roblox as well, adding to the mounting legal pressure.

The age verification requirement represents just one piece of a much larger safety overhaul. Roblox has launched over 145 safety innovations since January 2025, including enhanced personal information detection systems, improved abuse reporting, and expanded parental controls.

Why this is huge: Roblox is arguably the first major gaming platform to demand a real-world biometric check for social interaction. Platforms like Fortnite or Minecraft haven’t gone this far — and critics and supporters alike are watching closely.

Mixed Reactions From the Community

The update has inspired strong feedback online:

• Some players and parents support the safety intent.
• Others are worried about privacy and reluctant to upload biometric data.
• Some Reddit users even estimate that a portion of players may stop using chat or quit entirely due to the new requirements.

2. Financial Impact & Analyst Response

Roblox’s push into safety hasn’t just rattled players — it’s affected investor sentiment.

JPMorgan Downgrades Roblox Stock

In December 2025, JPMorgan downgraded Roblox stock from Overweight to Neutral, citing concerns about:

• Slowing engagement trends
• Potential impact of age verification on social features
• Russia’s ban affecting millions of players

The stock’s price target was lowered to $100 from $145.

This downgrade highlights how the age verification rollout isn’t just a safety story — it’s now a potential growth risk factor in investor models.

Broader Analyst Context

However, not all financial voices see doom:

• Other analysts have maintained positive outlooks, highlighting strong user engagement metrics and bookings growth earlier in 2025 (e.g., millions of DAUs and robust revenue trends).

In short: Wall Street is watching.

3. Russia Blocks Roblox

On December 3, 2025, Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor blocked access to Roblox throughout the country. The official reasons cited included concerns about child safety, claims that the platform distributed extremist materials and "LGBT propaganda," and allegations that it contained content justifying terrorism. The agency claimed the platform had become "rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children."

What happened next was remarkable. Russian children flooded President Vladimir Putin's office with complaints about the ban. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that "many" letters had been received ahead of Putin's annual year-end press conference. Pro-Kremlin censorship advocate Yekaterina Mizulina claimed she received 63,000 letters from children aged 8-16, with half expressing a desire to leave Russia because of the ban.

Over the weekend following the ban, small protests appeared in the Siberian city of Tomsk. Demonstrators braved the snow holding signs reading "Hands off Roblox" and "Roblox is a victim of the digital Iron Curtain." This represented rare public dissent in a country where criticism of government decisions can carry serious consequences.

The situation took an unexpected turn on December 17 when Roskomnadzor signaled it might be willing to restore access. The agency said Roblox management had contacted them and expressed readiness to address the flagged content. Roblox confirmed it had "established communication with Roskomnadzor" and was prepared to temporarily limit communication features in Russia and revise content moderation processes to comply with Russian law.

According to reports, Roblox acknowledged shortcomings in moderating in-game content and securing user chats. The company stated it was ready to do "everything possible to improve safety and comply with local laws." However, as of mid-December, chat features were still disabled for Russian users, and the full restoration of access remained uncertain.

The Russia ban fits into a broader pattern. Throughout 2025, Roblox was also banned in Algeria, Iraq, Palestine, and Qatar, all citing child safety concerns and content deemed inappropriate for children. Turkey blocked the platform in August 2024 for similar reasons, though discussions about potential restoration have been ongoing. This global wave of bans highlights the challenges platforms face when operating across different cultural and regulatory environments.

At the time of the ban, Roblox had approximately 18 million monthly active users in Russia, with an estimated 70 million total mobile downloads in the country since its launch. Losing access to such a large user base represents a significant blow, but the company appears willing to negotiate compliance rather than walk away entirely.

4. Record-Breaking Numbers and Platform Milestones

The platform now has over 151 million daily active users, with the average user spending 2.8 hours per day playing games and sharing experiences—that's more time than many people spend watching television.

The platform hit several jaw-dropping milestones. In August 2025, 45 million users played together simultaneously on a single Saturday morning. Think about that number for a second—that's more than the entire population of Canada, all online at the same time.

Individual games broke records too. In July, "Grow a Garden" set a Guinness World Record for most concurrently played video game, with 21.6 million users playing simultaneously. Then in September, "Steal a Brainrot" shattered that record by reaching over 25 million concurrent users. These aren't just impressive gaming statistics—they represent cultural moments where millions of people came together for shared experiences.

In November, Roblox reached another symbolic milestone: 10 billion registered user accounts. The 10 billionth user, with the username "iecua2," briefly had their account terminated before being reinstated, making for an amusing footnote in platform history.

The year's most searched games reflected the platform's diversity. "Grow a Garden" and "Steal a Brainrot" naturally topped the charts, but the list also included everything from decade-old favorites like "Murder Mystery 2" (created in 2014) to newer hits like "Blue Lock: Rivals" and "RIVALS" (both created in 2024). Horror games, simulation experiences, sports titles, and anime-themed games all found massive audiences.

As December rolled around, "The Forge [BETA]" emerged as the platform's most popular game, maintaining a 96% approval rating with over 623,000 active users. Other trending titles included "Adopt Me!" (which consistently ranks among the highest-earning games on the platform), "Brookhaven RP," "Blox Fruits," and the creatively titled "Scary Shawarma Kiosk: the Anomaly [Horror]."

5. Holiday Events and Seasonal Updates

The holiday season brought a wave of Christmas and winter-themed updates across popular Roblox games. Developers understand that seasonal content drives engagement, and they delivered in a big way.

"99 Nights in the Forest," a survival horror game that consistently ranks near the top of the charts, introduced its Christmas update with elves needing help, a North Pole Biome, a Christmas Shop, and a new Santa's Helper class. The game challenges players to manage warmth, food, and shelter while avoiding a dangerous deer-like entity—adding holiday cheer to the terror.

"Brookhaven RP" launched its Winter Festival on December 19, featuring ice skating, sledding, caroling, and seasonal rewards, along with new clothing and customization options. "Dress to Impress" rolled out its Paris Winter Update with snowfall, a Winter Advent Calendar offering daily rewards, and seasonal outfits including Gingerbread Onesies.

"Adopt Me!" continued its Christmas Week event with special pets and items. Week 2 brought Snowball Pugs and Yarn Beanies, while Week 3 (beginning December 19) added a Legendary Frost Phoenix. The game also hosted a special admin party on December 20 and a 2D Tuesday event on December 23 with unique pets and double rewards.

These seasonal updates do more than just add festive decorations—they bring players back to familiar games and encourage social interaction around shared events. Many developers report their highest engagement numbers during holiday periods, making these updates crucial for both player satisfaction and revenue.

Looking Ahead: What's Coming in 2026

The changes implemented in late 2025 are just the beginning. In early January 2026, Roblox announced it would require age checks for creators accessing Roblox Studio's real-time collaboration features. This extends the safety focus beyond players to the development community itself.

The company also plans to update its policies around Roblox communities and social media links on user profiles. Age groups used for chat may differ from those used for Studio or other products, suggesting a more nuanced, feature-specific approach to age verification.

Roblox opened its Careers Experience to the public in early January, allowing anyone to explore virtual representations of what it's like to work at the company. Previously accessible only to job candidates, this immersive recruitment tool demonstrates how the platform continues to find novel uses for its own technology.

The company has emphasized that 2026 will bring "more frequent updates" covering product changes, creator news, community updates, and policy changes. After a year of intense scrutiny and rapid evolution, this commitment to transparency signals that Roblox understands it needs to keep users, parents, and developers informed about platform changes.

Key Takeaways

• Mandatory facial age verification for chat rolled out globally in January 2026, making Roblox the first major gaming platform to require this
• Russia banned Roblox in December citing safety concerns and LGBTQ+ content, triggering protests and tens of thousands of letters from children to President Putin
• Platform reached 45 million concurrent users in August and 10 billion registered accounts in November
• Individual games broke world records with over 25 million concurrent players
• Nearly 80 lawsuits pending against Roblox in the United States related to child safety concerns
• Holiday updates across major games drove strong seasonal engagement
• Age verification will expand to Roblox Studio collaboration features in 2026