Russia has banned Roblox entirely, cutting off an estimated 70 million users who had installed the gaming platform on mobile devices. The country's communications agency specifically cited LGBTQ content as grounds for the prohibition, marking another escalation in Russia's crackdown on digital platforms that host communities deemed "extremist" under local laws.
Roblox just lost one of its biggest international markets overnight. Russia's communications agency has banned the user-generated gaming platform entirely, according to reports from TASS, the state-owned news agency. The decision specifically targets LGBTQ content on the platform, which Russian law now classifies as "extremist activity."
The numbers tell the story of what Roblox is losing - Appfigures data shows the platform racked up 70 million mobile installations in Russia, with 8 million downloads in 2025 alone before the ban hit. That's a massive chunk of users suddenly cut off from a platform that thrives on community engagement and user-generated content.
Russian regulators didn't mince words about their reasoning. The platform hosts "various interest-based and affinity communities, including military roleplaying games and LGBTQ solidarity groups," but it's the latter that triggered the ban. Russia's increasingly strict laws designate public LGBTQ advocacy as "extremist activity," putting any platform that allows such communities in the crosshairs.
Roblox declined to comment on the ban when reached by TechCrunch, but the timing couldn't be worse for a company already fighting multiple regulatory battles. The platform is simultaneously dealing with child safety investigations from attorneys general in Texas and Louisiana, following Bloomberg reports about predators targeting underage users.
The company's response to safety concerns has created its own controversies. Starting in January, Roblox will require mandatory facial verification for chat access - a move that comes with of its own. The platform also introduced and age checks throughout 2025.
