At around 8 a.m. Pacific time last Saturday, Roblox set a new record for simultaneous online users on the gaming platform: on August 23, the number of online users reached 47.3 million. This is 6.1 million higher than the peak of 41.2 million concurrent users on Valve's Steam platform in March. Earlier this month, the number of simultaneous online users on the Steam platform exceeded the 40 million mark.
Roblox's new peak is a huge jump from the previous record of 32.7 million users, set on Saturday, July 19. Setting two records in the space of one month demonstrates the platform’s continued growth in the nearly nineteen years since its debut on September 1, 2006.
The game creation platform is currently dominated by two games: Grow a Garden and Steal Brain Rot. Together, these two games account for more than 37 million concurrent players, meaning more than 77% of the user base plays these two games. "Planting Garden" is even more leading, with a peak number of simultaneous online players reaching 22 million, also setting a record for the highest peak number of simultaneous online players for a single game.
Planting Gardens was originally developed by a 16-year-old player named BMWLux, with Splitting Point Studios and Do Big Studios later becoming investors and participating in its development. It's essentially an idle farm simulation game where players start with a small plot of land and watch their plants grow into beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Players can harvest and sell produce to earn shekels, which can be used to purchase seeds, equipment, eggs, and decorations. They can also complete quests and participate in seasonal events to win free seeds, gear, pets, and decorations.
Steal a Brainrot has also attracted many players to join Roblox, with the highest number of people online at the same time reaching an estimated 15 million. The game was developed by a user named SpyderSammy in collaboration with another user named do_small and developer Do Big Studios. It's described as a Tycoon-like gaming experience where the goal of the game is to steal brains from other players to earn money, which can then be used to buy more brains. However, others will try to steal your brain rot, so you must protect them.
As a reminder, a few weeks ago the state of Louisiana filed a lawsuit against the company Roblox, alleging that it was a breeding ground for sexual predators and that its owners failed to put adequate safety protocols in place to protect children.