GamesIndustry.biz
1 hour, 33 minutes ago • Sophie McEvoy
Roblox’s reported user numbers will make it subject to additional EU legislation for regulating social networks
Roblox’s reported European audience has pushed it into territory that could trigger the EU’s toughest platform rules. The company said it averaged 48 million monthly active users in the EU for the six months ending February 13, 2026, above the Digital Services Act threshold for very large online platforms.
If the European Commission formally designates Roblox as a VLOP, the company will have four months to comply with DSA obligations. Those include identifying and mitigating systemic risks tied to illegal content, minors, wellbeing, and other harms, plus annual independent audits and a compliance function inside the company.
The practical impact goes beyond moderation. Roblox would also need to give regulators data access, support vetted researchers, offer a recommender option that does not rely on profiling, and maintain a public ad repository. For teams building live services, this is another reminder that scale now brings platform-style regulatory overhead, even for games with strong social and UGC components.
The DSA and DMA have applied across the EU since 2022, including to companies based outside the region. If Roblox is designated and later falls below the threshold for a full year, the status can be revoked; until then, the compliance burden and potential exposure are significant.
“Designation is definitely possible, could come sooner or later.”
At a glance
what
Roblox could be designated a Very Large Online Platform under the EU Digital Services Act after surpassing the 45 million monthly-user threshold in Europe.
who
Roblox, the European Commission, and EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier are central to the designation process.
when
Roblox reported 48 million average monthly active users in the EU for the six months ending February 13, 2026; VLOPs get four months to comply after designation.
impact
A VLOP designation would force Roblox to assess systemic risks, change moderation and recommendation systems, support audits, and face fines up to 6% of global turnover for serious noncompliance.
SignalMixed
More compliance burden, but clearer platform standards
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