Roblox Takes Action Against Doomscrolling-Reward Games Following Backlash

Roblox has been in the spotlight for some controversial reasons lately. Following the rise of a game called Steal an Egg, which attracted over 500,000 players at its peak, the platform has introduced new restrictions that seem to be a direct response to the game’s design. The company informed developers that “games that reward ongoing media feed consumption” will no longer be permitted in Roblox Kids and Select.

This new policy targets games that incorporate media feeds, autoplay, infinite scroll, autoscroll, and any rewards or implied rewards for viewing content.

Steal an Egg gained notoriety when unsettling images and videos from the game went viral on social media. In a scene reminiscent of Black Mirror’s “Fifteen Million Merits,” players were shown running on in-game treadmills while seemingly compelled to scroll through bizarre social media feeds.

For those unfamiliar, Steal an Egg is a popular title where players are tasked with raising eggs. However, there’s a catch: players can bypass the effort of nurturing their eggs by stealing them from others. This creates a competitive environment where players are motivated to enhance their speed stat, which can be achieved by spending Robux (a currency bought with real money) or by running on in-game treadmills. These treadmills feature a “feed” function that allows players to mindlessly scroll through a TikTok-like feed while they grind for stats—essentially merging pay-to-win mechanics, idle gameplay, and social media addiction into a single, disheartening experience. After facing backlash, Steal an Egg was temporarily removed from the platform before returning without its feed feature.

A Roblox representative commented on the updated guidelines:

Roblox is built for fun and connection. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing age-appropriate experiences, we have updated our policies to help ensure games on Roblox reflect the safe, positive environment we aim to foster. We work closely with our creator community to provide clear guidance, and we regularly review and evolve our policies to stay consistent with that goal.

In a related note, just two weeks ago, the U.S. Senate launched an investigation into Roblox due to allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of minors on the platform. A letter from senators highlighted that over the past decade, law enforcement has arrested multiple individuals for serious crimes against children they met through Roblox, including grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, and even murder. Several states have initiated similar investigations, prompting Roblox to implement ID checks and other safety measures to combat predatory behavior.

Steal an Egg was not only the most popular game on Roblox but also the focal point of a significant controversy.