adminRoblox and Minecraft players often enjoy other popular online games, but Newzoo data suggests they are less likely than average to play many traditional AAA releases. The pattern highlights how gaming preferences can differ across audiences—and why blockbuster graphics alone may not attract every player.
Roblox and Minecraft players favor live-service games
Newzoo consulting director Ben Porter described a shift in what players value: visual fidelity is no longer the only major draw. Some of the world’s most-played games use distinctive, accessible styles rather than aiming for cutting-edge graphics.
Roblox has been a prominent example. Its playtime grew by around 50% year over year, with viral experiences such as Steal a Brainrot and Grow a Garden contributing to that increase.
Newzoo found substantial audience overlap between Roblox and Minecraft players and major live-service titles. Fortnite overlaps with 55% of Roblox players and 46% of Minecraft players. The figures are 28% and 25% respectively for GTAV, and 26% and 22% for Call of Duty.
Newzoo found considerable overlap between Minecraft and Roblox players and leading live-service titles. Image credit: Newzoo.
These figures describe shared audiences, not the percentage of each game’s players who spend all their time on another title. For readers comparing games, they suggest that sandbox gaming and large online services can appeal to many of the same people.
Traditional AAA games attract a different audience
The overlap is less pronounced for some premium, single-player and other traditional console releases. Newzoo found that Roblox players are less likely than the average PlayStation or Xbox player to play Monster Hunter Wilds. In the analysis, a Roblox player was about 0.4 times as likely to play it as the average player.
Among titles Minecraft players were less likely to play were Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Borderlands 4, Ghost of Yōtei, NBA 2K26 and EA Sports Madden NFL 26. The list for Roblox players included Monster Hunter Wilds, Borderlands 4, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Ghost of Yōtei, Alan Wake 2 and Hogwarts Legacy.
Some major AAA releases have relatively little audience overlap with Roblox and Minecraft. Image credit: Newzoo.
Age and spending habits may help explain part of the difference. Many players in these communities are younger, and expensive games may be less accessible to people with limited budgets. That is one possible factor, not proof that younger players will never become interested in premium releases.
Similar play styles may create crossover
The audience split is not absolute. Roblox players were more likely than average to play games such as Gang Beasts, Among Us and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator. These titles offer social, playful or sandbox-like experiences that may feel familiar to players who enjoy Roblox.
For developers, the practical takeaway is to understand what an audience already enjoys rather than assuming that every player will be drawn to the same genres. Accessible multiplayer, creative play and social features may be relevant when designing for people who favor sandbox experiences.
Will younger players move on to AAA games?
A major question for the industry is whether players will keep their current habits as they grow older or gradually explore more traditional releases. Preferences can change over time, but Newzoo’s findings point to distinct gaming patterns that developers and publishers may need to consider.
The report also forecast that PC revenue would surpass console revenue by 2028 and described the market as approaching its first notable expansion since the slowdown following the pandemic. As the industry evolves, tracking how Roblox and Minecraft players discover new genres will help clarify whether today’s audience boundaries persist.
Overall, Roblox and Minecraft players are not disconnected from the wider games market: many also play major live-service titles. However, the data indicates less engagement with several high-profile AAA games, making audience preferences—not graphics alone—an important consideration for the future of gaming.
Image credit: Ubisoft.
