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A game about gardening has broken the record for the most users being online at the same time. The horticultural-themed game is called Grow a Garden. It first broke the record for simultaneous users on the 14th of June, when there were 16.4 million concurrent users. This surpassed the previous milestone of 14.3 million set by the blockbuster game Fortnite. Grow a Garden then shattered its own record on the 21st of June, with 21.3 million players. This made it the most‑played video game ever at a single moment. The game is owned by the online game platform Roblox. A spokesperson said the game's "global success is fuelled by exceptional user retention and vibrant social interactions".
Grow a Garden is a simulation game in which players tend to a patch of bare, virtual land. Budding gardeners buy seeds, plant vegetables, and grow flowers and herbs. They then harvest their produce to earn in-game currency and resources. Users can also upgrade their garden to obtain better tools and new areas. Good gardeners can level up to unlock rare seeds, exotic crops, and new biomes (like underwater gardens or magical forests). The BBC asked behavioural expert Professor Andrew Przybylski on whether the game could cultivate a love of gardening. He said: "It is unlikely that a game like this will encourage real-world gardening any more than Super Mario encourages plumbing."
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