Roblox is fundamentally redesigning how millions of young users interact with its virtual worlds. On Monday, the gaming giant announced a sweeping overhaul that introduces two new age-gated account types—Roblox Kids and Roblox Select—aimed at creating a "safety-by-default" experience for minors.

The move, scheduled to roll out in early June 2026, represents the company’s most aggressive effort to date to silence critics and regulators who have long labelled the platform a "wild west" for children.

A New Age-Based Hierarchy

Rather than the current uniform interface, Roblox will now automatically categorize users into specific brackets based on its global age-check technology:

  • Roblox Kids (Ages 5–8): These accounts are restricted to games rated "Minimal" or "Mild." To maximize safety, all communication features are disabled by default, and the app interface will feature a distinct background color to signal the user’s age to others.
  • Roblox Select (Ages 9–15): This middle-tier allows access to games rated up to "Moderate." While chat is enabled, it is restricted to similar age groups and can be strictly managed through updated parental controls.
  • Standard Accounts (Ages 16+): Users in this bracket will see no change to their experience, maintaining access to the platform’s full suite of social and gaming features.

The Creator Barrier: ‘Roblox Plus’ and Mandatory Testing

Roblox is also shifting responsibility for safety to its developer community. For a game to be eligible for the "Kids" or "Select" catalogues, creators must navigate a new three-step verification gauntlet.

First, developers must be fully ID-verified and maintain an active subscription to Roblox Plus—a new $4.99/month premium tier launching April 30, 2026, that replaces the legacy "Roblox Premium" model. Second, games must pass a real-time evaluation phase, during which they are first released to users aged 16+ for "stress testing." Finally, Roblox’s automated systems will screen for "social hangouts" or "free-form drawing" elements, which are now banned from younger accounts by default.

Why the Change?

The overhaul arrives as Roblox faces mounting legal pressure. Lawsuits from multiple U.S. states, including Texas and Louisiana, have alleged that the platform’s previous safeguards were insufficient to prevent grooming and exposure to mature content.

By mandating facial age estimation for chat and locking younger users into curated ecosystems, Roblox is signalling to investors and parents alike that it is prioritising platform health over frictionless growth.

"By combining age assurance with stronger creator accountability, we are helping set a higher standard for the industry," the company stated in its announcement.