Russia pulls the plug on Roblox in LGBTQ crackdown

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Russia has officially banned Roblox. 

The news comes via TASS, Russia’s state-owned media, which reported that the country’s communications agency flagged Roblox for containing LGBTQ content, which Russia classifies as “extremist activity.” 

Yes, you read that correctly: rainbow avatars are now apparently a national security threat.

Roblox, often described as Minecraft’s chaotic cousin with a thriving creator economy, hosts a huge spectrum of player-made experiences, from military roleplay to pride-themed hangouts. 

That openness is exactly what Russia took issue with.

The timing is especially awkward for Roblox, which has already spent the past year batting away safety scandals like they’re glitchy NPCs. 

Investigations have revealed that predators found ways to contact minors on the platform, and US attorneys general in Texas and Louisiana have opened probes into the company’s handling of child safety. 

In response, Roblox announced a wave of protective measures, including mandatory facial verification for users who want to use chat starting in January. 

Because nothing says “safe and fun digital playground” like scanning your face to tell a digital pet simulator you’re over 13.

Developers have also been told to flag games involving “sensitive” social, political, or religious topics so parents can choose whether younger kids can access them. 

The policy was meant to create transparency, but instead ignited backlash from groups like Out Making Games and Women in Games, which accused Roblox of labeling legitimate discussions (like pay equity in sports) as controversial content. 

In an open letter, the groups urged Roblox to avoid empowering discrimination under the guise of parental controls.

The ban is no small deal: according to Appfigures, Roblox has been downloaded an estimated 70 million times in Russia, with 8 million installs just this year. 

Now, millions of players are suddenly disconnected from their blocky digital lives, not because of gameplay issues, but geopolitics.