Google partners with Roblox on video ads

Roblox unveiled a new immersive video advertising format on its platform and announced a strategic partnership with Google to expand its advertising business reach.

Google will roll out these ads across AdMob and Ad Manager, creating significant new revenue opportunities for publishers while giving advertisers contextually relevant ways to reach engaged audiences.

Big picture. The gaming giant is introducing rewarded video ads up to 30 seconds long that offer in-game benefits, marking a significant evolution of its business model beyond traditional gaming revenue.

These ad formats are designed to blend seamlessly into virtual environments – appearing as billboards in digital cities or on screens during virtual sporting events – creating less disruptive advertising experiences that maintain user engagement.

By the numbers:

• 85.3 million: Daily active users on Roblox.
• Majority: Users aged 13+.
• 30 seconds: Maximum length of new video ad format.

Between the lines. This move addresses a key challenge in gaming advertising: maintaining user engagement without disrupting gameplay experiences. As Google executive Scott Sheffer noted, “traditional ad formats haven’t always been the right choice” in gaming environments.

The Roblox partnership also represents a strategic pivot for Google’s advertising business toward emerging virtual spaces where younger audiences spend significant time, positioning them ahead of industry shifts toward more immersive digital experiences.

What Google is saying. Google announced it’s extending Immersive Ads capabilities to more publishers following successful testing, with Roblox becoming a cornerstone partner for the technology.

Why we care. This partnership opens access to 85.3 million daily active users, predominantly Gen Z—a notoriously difficult audience to reach effectively. The rewarded video format offers a non-disruptive way to engage with these highly attentive users, creating authentic brand interactions rather than intrusive interruptions.

Additionally, integration with Google’s ad platform dramatically simplifies campaign management, allowing advertisers to incorporate Roblox into their broader digital strategies without learning new systems.

What’s next. Brands will soon be able to purchase ads directly or through Google Ad Manager, with additional formats like billboards due in the coming months. Partnerships with measurement firms Cint, DoubleVerify, and Nielsen will help track campaign performance