In the world of Roblox, where games can go from zero to millions of players overnight, one thing has become all too common: big studios rushing to buy up breakout hits. That’s what just happened with Grow a Garden and fans have a lot to say about it.
The game, which shot up through the ranks to become one of the most popular games on Roblox, even reached a peak of around 1.5M+ concurrent players over the weekend.
It’s a lighthearted, laid-back gardening sim that has won over the hearts of many, and for a time it looked like nothing could ever be wrong.
That is, until Do Big Studios came along. The same company which also acquired Fisch a while back, added microtransactions and the game is almost dead now.
Do Big Studios has made a bit of a name for itself in the Roblox community and not in a good way.
Players have noticed a pattern: a small team puts out a fun, fresh idea; a tiny group comes out with a fun, innovative concept; it goes viral; Do Big buys it; and suddenly the game is awash in microtransactions, muddled gameplay, and a huge loss of player interest.
It happened to Fisch, Blade Ball, A Dusty Trip, and even Gym League. Now, Grow a Garden appears to be following the same route.
Many fans are already noticing the changes. What was initially a relatively simple, relaxing game now consists of overpriced pet eggs, limited-time stores, and odds that make you feel like you must purchase Robux if you even want a chance at something rare.
A normal egg costs $500,000 in-game currency, a sum that even daily players can’t afford. And that’s just the beginning. A 1 percent chance exotic bug egg? That can cost you real-world players over $200 if you are unlucky.
This isn’t just speculation either. Players are posting screenshots, math explanations and angry comments all over social media. One name that keeps popping up in these conversations is “Jandel,” a figure thought to have been heavily involved in these monetization decisions.
The community says that once Jandel and DBS get a game, they load it up with pay-to-win content, water down the game, and let it die when the money stops coming in.
But it’s not all bad news, though. Some still play the game, just less willing to spend money.
Others are more hopeful, hoping Grow a Garden won’t meet the same fate as previous acquisitions.
There’s also hope that games like Dead Rails, whose developer publicly rejected an offer from DBS, remain independent for now.
Fans loved Grow a Garden for what it was: a fun, enjoyable experience you didn’t have to pay for. Now, many people feel like they are being directed towards a cash shop rather than a garden.
As one player put it, “Grow a Garden used to be about growing plants, now it feels like it’s about growing your credit card bill.”
Only time will tell if Do Big Studios can turn things around.
