Roblox shares plunge 70% after player numbers fall

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Second-quarter results show a persistent decline in player numbers and weaker-than-expected monetization, as Roblox bets on artificial intelligence.

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Roblox shares fell 70% after the company released its second-quarter results, which showed a persistent decline in player numbers and weaker-than-expected monetization. The company also said its earnings outlook for the rest of the year had “changed considerably”.

The platform still attracts 123 million players daily, but that figure has declined for the past three quarters. The peak was 152 million players. Monthly unique players, meanwhile, fell by 10 million over the last two quarters, reaching 27 million.

During an earnings call, Roblox CFO Naveen Chopra attributed the weaker performance to a lack of “classic viral games”. He said players had shifted their attention to new, long-term experiences that generate less monetization per hour.

Chopra also linked part of the results to changes in Roblox’s recommendation algorithm. The system now prioritizes long-term player retention, putting short-term monetization on the back burner. Weak monetization is expected to continue, the CFO said while discussing the company’s outlook.

Roblox’s third-quarter forecast points to a year-over-year decline of between 14% and 18%. The company decided not to issue an earnings forecast for the rest of the year, citing “increasing variability” in the fourth quarter.

Despite the decline, Chopra said Roblox remains confident that it is making the right decisions to secure the platform’s future. The strategy includes integrating artificial intelligence, although heavy investment in AI was also cited as one of the factors behind the weaker-than-expected results.

The performance comes amid broader concerns about child safety on the platform, as well as criticism of how Roblox seeks to monetize its young audience.