New York, January 14, 2026, 21:17 EST — The market has closed.
- Roblox shares ended the day down 2.3% at $82.87, then dipped a further 0.6% in after-hours trading.
- A Morgan Stanley note singled out a viral new game as evidence the platform remains capable of delivering hits.
- Attention is on the company’s Feb. 5 earnings report and the launch of facial age verification for chat.
Shares of Roblox Corp (RBLX.N) dropped 2.3% Wednesday, following a sharp 10.5% rise the day before, as investors digested concerns around the company’s use of facial age verification for chat. The stock swung between $87.25 and $82.15 before settling at $82.87. In after-hours trading, it slipped another 0.6% to $82.40.
The whipsaw matters since Roblox’s growth hinges on engagement — users sticking around, chatting, and spending within creator-built games. If accessing chat gets tougher or feels clunky, that could quickly hit usage and revenue.
Roblox, the online gaming and creation platform, plans to release its Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings after U.S. markets close on Feb. 5. The company will hold a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET, it announced.
A note from Morgan Stanley this week highlighted a breakout hit — “Escape Tsunami to Steal Brainrots” — as proof the platform remains capable of spawning viral successes. Analysts Matthew Cost and Brian Nowak said the game’s popularity underscores this, maintaining their Overweight rating and a $155 price target. Barron’s
WIRED revealed that Roblox’s AI-based age verification system for chat has wrongly flagged users’ ages, sparking backlash from players and some developers alike. Meanwhile, age-verified accounts for minors surfaced on eBay, where they were up for sale. An eBay spokeswoman confirmed those listings were taken down after WIRED alerted them. Roblox’s chief safety officer Matt Kaufman told WIRED, “You can’t flip a switch while building something that hasn’t existed before,” adding that “tens of millions of users” have already gone through the age verification process. WIRED
Roblox clarified in an updated developer forum post Wednesday that photos and videos captured for facial age estimation “are not retained” and are deleted “immediately after processing” by their vendor, Persona. The company also mentioned it is working on a new matchmaking signal to connect users for chat, alongside new chat and voice grouping features set to roll out in February. Developer Forum | Roblox
A separate SEC filing revealed that director Anthony P. Lee sold 6,020 Class A shares at $82.45 on Jan. 13. He also offloaded two smaller blocks held in family trusts, all under a Rule 10b5-1 plan—a prearranged trading program for insiders—adopted in November 2024.
The risk is that the age-check rule turns into more than just a headline. If it cuts chat activity or drains the energy from social games, creator earnings and player spending might take a hit, adding pressure on the upcoming numbers.
Traders also need to factor in recurring privacy and safety concerns tied to this name. Roblox insists images are deleted after processing, yet the rollout has refocused attention on the platform’s approach to child safety and moderation.
U.S. markets remain closed until Thursday, leaving investors to see if Roblox shares can stay in the low-$80s following this week’s rally and retreat. The key event ahead is Roblox’s Feb. 5 earnings report, which will shed light on user engagement and the rollout of its chat features.
