A Year of Gaming Chaos: How Roblox's Dark Side Exposed a Broken System
In 2025, it became increasingly clear that the world of online gaming had become a battleground. While some games brought us joy and escapism, others revealed the darker side of the industry.
One such game was Roblox, a platform with over 150 million daily users – mostly children – that has been plagued by allegations of sexual assault and harassment. In one chilling account, a writer spent just one week on the platform, only to be subjected to disturbing behavior, including being sexually assaulted as a child avatar roaming the online world.
This disturbing trend highlights a broader issue: the failure of parents and regulators to properly safeguard children from harm in these virtual worlds. As one expert noted, "Roblox is a perfect storm of social engineering and game design that creates an environment ripe for exploitation."
Another issue that came under scrutiny was the gaming habits of some of the most powerful people in the world. In 2025, we saw numerous examples of celebrities and politicians pretending to be gamers, often to gain credibility or access to exclusive content.
However, not all games are created equal. Some titles have been criticized for their lack of representation or diversity, while others have pushed boundaries with innovative storytelling and gameplay mechanics.
In response, some game developers have turned to crowdfunding to bring new ideas to life. The success of these campaigns has shown that gamers are willing to support projects that truly resonate with them – but this also raises questions about ownership and control in the gaming industry.
As we look to 2026, one thing is clear: the world of gaming will continue to evolve at a rapid pace. With new technologies and platforms emerging all the time, it's essential for gamers, developers, and regulators to work together to create a safer, more inclusive space for everyone.
In this year ahead, we'll be covering some of the most anticipated games of 2026, including the long-awaited sequel to Grand Theft Auto: as well as exploring the growing trend of gaming in older demographics. We'll also be looking at how the industry is responding to criticism and calls for change – and what that might mean for the future of gaming.
As always, we'd love to hear from you – so be sure to reply with your thoughts on the most anticipated games of 2026, and they might feature in a future issue of the newsletter.
In 2025, it became increasingly clear that the world of online gaming had become a battleground. While some games brought us joy and escapism, others revealed the darker side of the industry.
One such game was Roblox, a platform with over 150 million daily users – mostly children – that has been plagued by allegations of sexual assault and harassment. In one chilling account, a writer spent just one week on the platform, only to be subjected to disturbing behavior, including being sexually assaulted as a child avatar roaming the online world.
This disturbing trend highlights a broader issue: the failure of parents and regulators to properly safeguard children from harm in these virtual worlds. As one expert noted, "Roblox is a perfect storm of social engineering and game design that creates an environment ripe for exploitation."
Another issue that came under scrutiny was the gaming habits of some of the most powerful people in the world. In 2025, we saw numerous examples of celebrities and politicians pretending to be gamers, often to gain credibility or access to exclusive content.
However, not all games are created equal. Some titles have been criticized for their lack of representation or diversity, while others have pushed boundaries with innovative storytelling and gameplay mechanics.
In response, some game developers have turned to crowdfunding to bring new ideas to life. The success of these campaigns has shown that gamers are willing to support projects that truly resonate with them – but this also raises questions about ownership and control in the gaming industry.
As we look to 2026, one thing is clear: the world of gaming will continue to evolve at a rapid pace. With new technologies and platforms emerging all the time, it's essential for gamers, developers, and regulators to work together to create a safer, more inclusive space for everyone.
In this year ahead, we'll be covering some of the most anticipated games of 2026, including the long-awaited sequel to Grand Theft Auto: as well as exploring the growing trend of gaming in older demographics. We'll also be looking at how the industry is responding to criticism and calls for change – and what that might mean for the future of gaming.
As always, we'd love to hear from you – so be sure to reply with your thoughts on the most anticipated games of 2026, and they might feature in a future issue of the newsletter.
. I mean, who creates an online space where kids can hang out and then turns a blind eye to predators lurking around every corner? It's like, we're supposed to be creating safe spaces for our little ones, not leaving them vulnerable to abuse 
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. Can't they see how ridiculous it looks when they're trying to pass off their fake gaming skills as real?
. We need more games that showcase diverse stories and characters – not just the same old white dudes 
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. On one hand, it's awesome to see people supporting projects they believe in, but on the other hand, who owns these games? Is it the devs or the backers? It's like, we need some clarity on that front 
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. Bring on those new game releases and let's hope they tackle these issues head-on 
!
... they think it's okay for their kids to play online all day without teaching them how to be careful 
. we need better parental controls and education on how to spot predators 
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. what do you think can be done to make online gaming safer and more inclusive? 
The game devs need to step up their adult supervision or at least have some serious safeguards in place. And what's with the celebs pretending to be gamers just to get ahead? It's like they're trying to fake it till they make it, but really they're just embarrassing themselves 
. They're using our kids as test subjects for their sick social experiments 
. Mark my words, there's something fishy going on behind the scenes. The whole gaming industry is about to get exposed for its shady dealings 
. Don't be surprised if some big names come crashing down next year 
. With all the attention around mental health, online harassment, and diversity in games, devs are starting to take steps to address these issues 
. And hey, maybe we'll see some more innovative storytelling and gameplay mechanics out of it 
. We need more representation, better moderation, and a safer online space for everyone 
.
. I mean, who needs all that sugary sweet fun when you can have a platform where predators can prey on vulnerable kids? It's not exactly a perfect storm, but more like a wake-up call for parents and regulators to step up their game (pun intended). And let's be real, those celebs pretending to be gamers? Give me a break - it's just another way to get attention and boost their online cred. I'm all for innovation in storytelling and gameplay mechanics, but what about some actual representation and diversity in the games themselves? 
, but let's be real, who gets to decide what a game should be like? The community or some faceless corporation? 
It's not just about the exploitation of children, it's also about how parents aren't doing their job and letting these platforms run wild without proper safety measures in place 
. And don't even get me started on the gaming habits of some celebs... pretending to be gamers just to seem cool? 
. At the end of the day, though, it's all about creating games that matter, with stories and characters that resonate with people from all walks of life.
. Like, if you're gonna claim to be a gamer, at least have the decency to be good at it, right? It's just embarrassing when they're trying to scam us into buying their gaming gear or whatever.
, I guess. I mean, if you can get them to make more diverse and representative stuff, that'd be awesome 
. And crowdfunding is a great way for devs to connect with players, but it's also kinda sketchy when they're just trying to milk us for cash 
, I can feel it. Can't wait to see what new games come out and how the industry changes 
. And what really gets me is that some people are trying to make gaming look cool and edgy by pretending to be gamers when they're not 
. We need more games like Stardew Valley, you know? The ones that bring people together instead of driving them apart 
. But come on, guys, be authentic! We're not all that stupid.
... some devs are trying to create safe spaces for kids (like roblox's new safety features), but other devs are just exploiting that vulnerability 
. We need better regulations in place to protect kids, and more devs need to prioritize diversity and inclusion 
.
And let's be real, gamers can be pretty harsh critics... maybe this is just a chance for the industry to step up its game 
