Roblox changed a great deal for everyday players in the first seven months of 2026. The year’s biggest updates were not just new games or events: they reshaped how people prove their age, who can chat, what younger users can access, how subscriptions work, and how players report problems. Here is a clear roundup of the changes that matter most.
The Biggest Changes
- Age checks became central to chat access and account experiences.
- Roblox introduced age-based Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts worldwide.
- Connections returned to the familiar Friends name, with Trusted Friends for known people across age groups.
- Roblox Plus launched as a new paid subscription, replacing new Roblox Premium sign-ups.
- Player reporting was redesigned to be faster, clearer, and more transparent.
- Avatar moderation became more proactive, with clearer explanations when an avatar update is blocked.
Stronger Avatar Moderation, More Visible Advertising Homepage
In January 2026, Roblox detailed a proactive approach to avatar moderation. Instead of relying only on player reports, Roblox said it would use new systems to identify problematic avatar updates and explain to users why an avatar or update cannot be published. For players who customize often, that means moderation may appear earlier in the process, alongside more specific policy guidance.
Roblox also introduced a Homepage Feature ad format in closed beta. It places branded video-led experiences on the Roblox homepage, so you may see more immersive promotional placements. Roblox described the feature as a premium homepage unit rather than a conventional in-game game update.
Age Checks Expansion & Simple Language Reporting
Age verification became a much more important part of using Roblox. In February 2026, Roblox said that age checks support age-appropriate chat, discovery, and social features. Users can complete an age check through facial age estimation or ID verification, depending on the feature and region.
Roblox also announced the first stage of a redesigned reporting tool. The change uses plainer words, a question-led flow, and better screenshot reporting. For example, it aims to make it easier for a player to identify an offending avatar, object, or interface element rather than trying to describe it from scratch.
What this means for players
- Users who want chat and certain social features should expect to complete an age check.
- Reporting a problem is designed to require less knowledge of Roblox policy terms.
- Chat penalties for repeated or more serious violations can range from short timeouts to multiple days, with account-wide action still possible for repeat violations.
Friends, Trusted Friends, Roblox Plus
Roblox changed the label “Connections” back to “Friends,” and “Trusted Connections” back to “Trusted Friends.” The Trusted Friends designation is for people a user knows in real life, such as family members and close friends. Age-checked users 13 and older can use supported methods such as a live QR scan or contact import to add Trusted Friends, with availability varying by country.
The update was especially important for families. Linked parents automatically become their child’s Trusted Friend, and Roblox said younger siblings, cousins, and school friends could be added across age groups with the appropriate parental approval. Roblox still requires age checks for chat and says its standard safety systems, including chat filtering and monitoring, remain in place.
Later that month, Roblox Plus launched globally at $4.99 USD per month. It offers an immediate 10% discount on eligible in-game items and avatar purchases, increasing to 20% after a subscriber’s third consecutive month. It also includes unlimited private servers in supported games, a profile badge, and fee-free direct Robux transfers for subscribers. Parental approval is required each time younger users send or receive Robux; users must be age-checked and 18+ to transfer without that approval.
Important Premium Change
Roblox stopped accepting new Roblox Premium sign-ups with the Plus rollout. Existing Premium members can keep their membership and its monthly Robux stipend, trading, publishing, and selling access. However, Roblox said the 10% bonus on additional Robux purchases for Premium subscribers ended on May 30, 2026.
Default Experience for Younger Users
Roblox began rolling out new age-based account types in May and made Roblox Kids and Roblox Select globally available on June 16. The system is designed to give children, younger teens, and older users different default access rather than treating every account the same.
- Roblox Kids (ages 5–8): chat is off by default; a linked parent can change in-game chat settings. These users access games selected for this younger audience.
- Roblox Select (ages 9–15): access and chat settings increase gradually by age and region, with parental controls still available.
- Roblox (age-checked 16+): chat is enabled where available and users can access the broader catalog except Restricted (18+) experiences.
A major practical change is that users who have not completed an age check cannot chat on Roblox, regardless of stated age. The Kids and Select catalogs also involve added game reviews. Roblox said it does not allow social hangout or free-form drawing features in these younger-user catalogs, and Roblox Moments is unavailable to Kids and Select accounts at launch.
Social-media links received tighter limits too: at launch, Roblox said they can be shared or viewed across profiles, game detail pages, Community pages, and Creator Hub only by age-checked users 16 or older.
Quicker & Transparent In-Game Reporting
On July 1, Roblox announced major in-game reporting improvements. The report flow now adapts its questions to the issue being reported, skips irrelevant steps, and uses simpler language. Roblox also added per-report notifications when a submitted report leads to action, plus immediate tips such as how to block a player or find helpful resources.
Behind the scenes, Roblox says the new system routes reports to the most appropriate review team with relevant evidence. The company also said it plans a persistent reporting inbox in the third quarter of 2026 so players can review both actioned and non-actioned reports.
The bottom line
For players, 2026 has been a shift toward a more age-specific Roblox. The trade-off is clear: completing an age check is increasingly necessary to unlock chat and the full account experience, while younger users receive tighter defaults and more parental oversight. At the same time, Trusted Friends aims to preserve real-world family and friend connections, Roblox Plus changes the value proposition for frequent spenders, and the new reporting tools should make it easier to act when something goes wrong.