View source for Roblox

{{Short description|Multiplayer game creation platform}}
{{For|the parent company that develops the platform|Roblox Corporation}}
{{Distinguish|Robox}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Roblox
| logo = Roblox Logo 2022.svg
| logo caption = Logo used since 2022
| screenshot = Roblox app screenshot.png
| caption = The platform's "Charts" page (see [[List of Roblox games|list of games]])
| author = [[David Baszucki]]<br />Erik Cassel<ref name="ForbesHow">{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=Alex |date=September 17, 2018 |title=How Roblox Is Training The Next Generation Of Gaming Entrepreneurs |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2018/09/17/how-roblox-is-training-the-next-generation-of-gaming-entrepreneurs/ |access-date=April 23, 2019 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref>
| developer = [[Roblox Corporation]]
| released = {{Unbulleted list|
'''Windows'''|September 1, 2006<ref name="founding">{{Cite web |title=Roblox Company Information |url=http://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/203313370-Roblox-Company-Information |access-date=September 9, 2019 |website=Roblox Support}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yaden |first=Joseph |date=May 4, 2020 |title=What is Roblox? |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/what-is-roblox/ |access-date=June 1, 2020 |website=[[Digital Trends]]}}</ref>
|'''iOS'''|December 11, 2012<ref name=iOSR/>
|'''Android'''|July 16, 2014<ref name="AndroidRelease">{{Cite web |last=Haak |first=Andrew |date=July 16, 2014 |title=Roblox Arrives on Android |url=https://blog.roblox.com/2014/07/roblox-arrives-on-android/ |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=Roblox Blog}}</ref>
|'''Xbox One'''|November 20, 2015<ref name=XboxOneRelease/>
|'''Meta Quest 2''', '''Quest Pro'''|September 2023<ref name="QuestRelease">{{cite news|last1=Peters|first1=Jay|title=Roblox is finally coming to PlayStation|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/8/23863712/roblox-playstation-ps4-ps5-rdc-2023|access-date=September 9, 2023|work=The Verge|date=September 8, 2023}}</ref>{{Efn|A public beta was released on July 27, 2023.<ref name="QuestBeta">{{cite news|last1=Peters|first1=Jay|title=Roblox is now available to try on Meta Quest VR headsets|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/27/23810093/meta-quest-roblox-vr-headsets-beta|access-date=September 9, 2023|work=The Verge|date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>}}
|'''PlayStation 4'''|October 10, 2023<ref name="PSRelease">{{Cite web |title= Roblox launches on PlayStation in October |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/roblox-launches-on-playstation-in-october |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}}</ref>
}}
| latest_release_version = 645
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2024|10|03}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/c/updates/release-notes/62 |title=Latest Updates/Release Notes topics |website=Roblox Developer Forum |access-date=October 4, 2024 |archive-date=October 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004021729/https://devforum.roblox.com/c/updates/release-notes/62 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| programming language = {{Unbulleted list|[[C++]]|[[#Roblox Studio|Lua''u'']]}}
| platform = [[Windows]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Xbox One]], [[Quest 2|Meta Quest 2]], [[Meta Quest Pro]], [[PlayStation 4]]
| genre = [[Game creation system]], [[massively multiplayer online game]]
| license = [[Proprietary software]]
| website = hide
}}
'''Roblox''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|oʊ|b|l|ɒ|k|s}} {{respell|ROH|bloks}}) is an online [[Video game|game]] [[Computing platform|platform]] and [[game creation system]] developed by [[Roblox Corporation]] that allows users to [[Computer programming|program]] and play games created by themselves or other users. Created by [[David Baszucki]] and Erik Cassel in 2004 and released in 2006, the platform hosts user-created games of multiple genres coded in the [[programming language]] [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]]. Early in Roblox{{'}}s history, it was relatively small, both as a platform and as a company. Roblox began to grow rapidly in the second half of the 2010s, and this growth was [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry|accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=Levy/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Sherwood |date=July 12, 2019 |title=How Roblox avoided the gaming graveyard and grew into a $2.5B company |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/11/how-roblox-avoided-the-gaming-graveyard-and-grew-into-a-2-5b-company/ |access-date=August 28, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref>

Roblox is free to play, with in-game purchases available through a [[Virtual economy|virtual currency]] called Robux. As of August 2020, Roblox had over 164 million monthly active users, including more than half of all American children under 16.<ref name="NYTimes">{{Cite news |last=Browning |first=Kellen |date=August 16, 2020 |title=You May Not Know This Pandemic Winner, but Your Tween Probably Does |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/technology/roblox-tweens-videogame-coronavirus.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816195005/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/technology/roblox-tweens-videogame-coronavirus.html |archive-date=August 16, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Verge">{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=July 21, 2020 |title=Over half of US kids are playing Roblox, and it's about to host Fortnite-esque virtual parties too |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/21/21333431/roblox-over-half-of-us-kids-playing-virtual-parties-fortnite |access-date=July 23, 2020 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> Although Roblox has received generally positive reviews from critics, it has faced criticism for its [[content moderation]], [[microtransaction]]s, and allegations of exploitative practices toward children.

== Overview ==

=== Roblox Studio ===
[[File:Roblox Studio logo - 2022.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|The Roblox Studio logo since 2022|alt=Two blue polygons with a gap in between them.]]
[[File:Roblox Studio New UI.png|thumb|The Roblox Studio interface as of August 2024]]
Roblox allows users to create and publish their own games, which can then be played by other users, by using its [[game engine]], Roblox Studio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=September 29, 2019 |title=All you need to know about Roblox |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/sep/28/roblox-guide-children-gaming-platform-developer-minecraft-fortnite |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Roblox Studio includes multiple premade game templates,<ref name=":101">{{Cite web |last=Haskins |first=Heath |date=September 16, 2021 |title=Roblox 101: How to Make Your First Game |url=https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/roblox-101-how-to-make-your-first-game |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=PCMag}}</ref><ref name="androidpolice">{{Cite web |last=Leroux |first=Faith |date=January 11, 2024 |title=What is Roblox? Navigate the popular game creation platform with ease |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/roblox-game-platform-guide-explainer/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=Android Police}}</ref> as well as the Toolbox, which allows access to user-created models, [[plugin (computing)|plugin]]s, audio, images, meshes, video, and fonts. <ref name="Book">{{Cite book |last=Jagneaux |first=David |title=The Ultimate Roblox Book: An Unofficial Guide: Learn How to Build Your Own Worlds, Customize Your Games, and So Much More! |date=January 1, 2018 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=978-1507205334 |page=240 |lccn=2017040387}}</ref><ref name="Toolbox">{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Roblox Toolbox Full Guide |url=https://learnbuildplay.com/blog/roblox-toolbox-full-guide/ |access-date=August 7, 2024 |website=Learn. Build. Play.}}</ref> Games, officially referred to as "experiences" on the platform,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Apple said Roblox developers don't make games, and now Roblox agrees |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/14/22436014/apple-roblox-epic-fortnite-trial-what-is-game-name-change |url-status=live |access-date=December 21, 2021 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903170009/https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/14/22436014/apple-roblox-epic-fortnite-trial-what-is-game-name-change }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Mike |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Roblox rebrands as 'experience' creation platform amid Epic Games v. Apple trial |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/05/14/roblox-rebrands-as-experience-creation-platform-amid-epic-games-v-apple-trial |url-status=live |access-date=December 21, 2021 |website=[[AppleInsider]] |archive-date=August 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823200633/https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/05/14/roblox-rebrands-as-experience-creation-platform-amid-epic-games-v-apple-trial }}</ref> are [[Scripting language|scripted]] with Lua''u'', a [[dialect (computing)|dialect]] of the [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]] programming language, while [[C++]] is used for background processes such as memory management.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wirtz |first=Bryan |date=September 29, 2023 |title=Getting Started With Roblox Scripting |url=https://www.gamedesigning.org/learn/roblox-coding/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=GameDesigning}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Code Does Roblox Use? (Lua, C++, Java, or Python) |url=https://funtech.co.uk/latest/what-code-does-roblox-use-lua-c-java-or-python |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=FunTechBlog|date=June 27, 2022 }}</ref>{{Bsn|date=September 2024}} A derivative of Lua 5.1, Lua''u'' supports [[gradual typing]] and is designed to maximize [[Computer performance|performance]].<ref name="How">{{Cite web |last=Vanbrocklin |first=Tyler |date=December 26, 2012 |title=How to Learn Roblox and Roblox Studio |url=https://gamedevelopment.tutsplus.com/articles/how-to-learn-roblox-and-roblox-studio--gamedev-2304 |access-date=June 7, 2020 |website=Game Development Envato Tuts+}}</ref><ref name=":101" /><ref name="androidpolice" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Luau? |url=https://luau-lang.org/why |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Luau |language=en |quote=All of these motivated us to start reshaping Lua 5.1 that we started from into a new, derivative language that we call Luau. Our focus is on making the language more performant and feature-rich, and make it easier to write robust code through a combination of linting and type checking using a gradual type system.}}</ref> Lua''u'' has been released under the [[MIT License]] since November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2021 |title=Luau Goes Open-Source |url=https://luau-lang.org/2021/11/03/luau-goes-open-source.html |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Luau |language=en}}</ref>{{Psi|date=September 2024}}

[[File:Luau Syntax.jpg|thumb|Screenshot of Lua''u'' source code]]
Users are able to create purchasable content through one-time purchases, known as "game passes", as well as [[microtransaction]]s that can be purchased more than once, known as "developer products".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Marcus |last2=Mavoa |first2=Jane |date=March 17, 2021 |title=Why is kids' video game Roblox worth $38 billion and what do parents need to know? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-kids-video-game-roblox-worth-38-billion-and-what-do-parents-need-to-know-157133 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cao |first=Jing |date=March 14, 2017 |title=Roblox Unearths $92 Million to Challenge Microsoft's Minecraft |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-14/roblox-unearths-92-million-to-challenge-microsoft-s-minecraft |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093935/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-14/roblox-unearths-92-million-to-challenge-microsoft-s-minecraft |archive-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> As of 2020, Roblox reported that more than 2 million developers used Roblox Studio to create more than 20 million games per year. A majority of developers were minors, and roughly 345,000 earned money through Roblox's Developer Exchange program.<ref name="Study">{{Cite web |last1=Douthwaite |first1=Andrew |last2=Warneford |first2=Matthew |last3=Pierce |first3=Matt |year=2020 |title=Dubit Guide to Roblox for Brands |url=https://docsend.com/view/yytafca42a83pbgq |access-date=July 10, 2020 |website=DocSend |publisher=[[Dubit Limited]] |page=5}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes/>

=== Items and currency ===
[[File:Robux 2019 Logo gold.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|Logo of the virtual currency "Robux"]]
Roblox allows players to buy, sell, and create virtual items which can be used to decorate their virtual character that serves as their [[avatar (computing)|avatar]] on the platform.<ref name=NYTimes/> Previously, only Roblox administrators had the ability to sell accessories, body parts, gear, and packages under the official Roblox user account,<ref name="bizjournals">{{Cite news |last=Procter |first=Richard |date=May 17, 2017 |title=Roblox lets users build their own virtual world |work=[[San Francisco Business Times]] |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/05/17/tech-awards-2017-gaming-esports-roblox-virtual.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129201849/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/05/17/tech-awards-2017-gaming-esports-roblox-virtual.html |archive-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> with virtual hats and accessories also being able to be published by a select few users with past experience working with Roblox Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=givenothingback |last2=Captain_Rando |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Paving the Road to a User-Generated Catalog |url=https://blog.roblox.com/2019/08/paving-road-user-generated-catalog/ |access-date=June 4, 2020 |website=Roblox Blog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=coefficients |date=August 15, 2019 |title=UGC Catalog is Now Live! |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/ugc-catalog-is-now-live/331405 |access-date=June 4, 2020 |website=Roblox Developer Forum |language=en-US}}</ref> This arrangement was in place until the introduction of the UGC Catalog,<ref>{{cite news |title=Roblox Venture Capital Investors, listed |url=https://www.cantechletter.com/2023/09/roblox-venture-capital-investors-listed/# |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=Cantech Letter |date=September 19, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Leswing |first1=Kif |title=Roblox CEO says April bookings are starting to turn around after a difficult March |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/11/roblox-ceo-david-baszucki-says-bookings-are-turning-around.html |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=CNBC |date=May 11, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> which allowed selected individuals within the Roblox community to create and sell customized user-generated content (UGC) avatar items through the UGC Program.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vanian |first1=Jonathan |title=Roblox is letting game creators sell 3D virtual goods as it looks for ways to boost revenue |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/08/roblox-is-letting-game-creators-sell-3d-goods-looks-to-boost-revenue.html |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=CNBC |date=September 8, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fragen |first1=Jordan |title=Roblox adds avatar bodies and heads to UGC marketplace |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/roblox-ugc-program-avatar-body-head-monetization/ |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=VentureBeat |date=August 16, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=Roblox is about to let users sell custom-made avatar bodies and heads |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/16/23834790/roblox-ugc-sell-avatar-bodies-heads |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Verge |date=August 16, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Several individuals design items as a full-time job, with the highest-earning creators making over $100,000 a year off item sales.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Maghan |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Digital fashion surges in a sales downturn |url=https://www.voguebusiness.com/technology/digital-fashion-surges-in-a-sales-downturn-forma-drest |access-date=September 1, 2020 |website=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue Business]]}}</ref>

Items with a [[limited edition]] status can only be traded between or sold by users with a Roblox Premium membership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagneaux |first=David |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Roblox 101: Getting Started With Robux and The Builders Club |url=https://www.geek.com/games/roblox-101-getting-started-with-robux-and-the-builders-club-1725962/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129202401/https://www.geek.com/games/roblox-101-getting-started-with-robux-and-the-builders-club-1725962/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |website=[[Geek.com]]}}</ref> These limited items have a Recent Average Price (RAP), and their value fluctuates based on its demand and rarity. Although selling these items for real-world currency violates Roblox's terms of service, this does not stop some individuals from doing so through [[black market]] sites and communities, in which limited items, some of which being stolen, are often exchanged for payment methods such as [[cryptocurrency]] or sometimes [[PayPal]].<ref name="vice">{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Joseph |date=February 14, 2022 |title=How Roblox 'Beamers' Get Rich Stealing from Children |language=en |work=Vice |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/88gd4a/roblox-beaming-hackers}}</ref> Previously, only Roblox released these limited items themselves until the introduction of "UGC Limiteds" in April 2023,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=May 25, 2023 |title=Roblox is making some changes to how creators can sell limited-run virtual gear |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/25/23736175/roblox-limited-gear-selling-changes-update}}</ref> which allowed for those in the UGC Program to design and sell user-generated items themselves with limited quantities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=Roblox creators can now make and sell limited-run avatar gear |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/14/23683459/roblox-limiteds-creators-make-sell-avatar-gear-user-generated-content-ugc |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Verge |date=April 14, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Roblox introduces Limiteds for creators to make, sell limited-run avatar gear |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/technology/roblox-introduces-limiteds-for-creators-to-make-sell-limited-run-avatar-gear-1503172686.html |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Statesman |date=April 17, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Unlike Roblox-released limited items, UGC Limiteds cannot be traded. They can, however, be resold after a 30-day holding period after being bought.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roblox UGC limiteds are now available in the marketplace |url=https://www.pockettactics.com/roblox/ugc-limiteds |access-date=July 16, 2023 |work=Pocket Tactics |date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>

Robux allows players to buy various items, and are obtained by purchase with real currency, from a recurring stipend given to members with a Premium membership, and from other players by producing and selling virtual content in Roblox.<ref name="heavy">{{Cite web |last=Fennimore |first=Jack |date=July 12, 2017 |title=Roblox: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/games/2017/07/roblox-youtube-free-download-corporation-baszucki-cassel-nerfmodder/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129032712/https://heavy.com/games/2017/07/roblox-youtube-free-download-corporation-baszucki-cassel-nerfmodder/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=[[Heavy.com|Heavy]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagneaux |first=David |date=December 8, 2017 |title=Roblox 101: How To Avoid Free Robux Scams |url=https://www.geek.com/games/roblox-101-how-to-avoid-free-robux-scams-1725253/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129210131/https://www.geek.com/games/roblox-101-how-to-avoid-free-robux-scams-1725253/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |website=[[Geek.com]]}}</ref> Prior to 2016, Roblox had another currency, Tix (short for "Tickets"), that was discontinued in April of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sidhwani |first=Priyansh |date=March 12, 2021 |title=The History Of Roblox : From 2004 Until Now |work=TechStory |url=https://techstory.in/the-history-of-roblox-from-2004-until-now/ |access-date=March 13, 2021}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2021|reason=TechStory does not appear to have an editorial team.}} Robux acquired through the sale of user-generated content can be exchanged into real-world currency through the website's Developer Exchange system.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Editorial Team |date=January 5, 2018 |title=How to make money with DevEx on Roblox |url=https://en.softonic.com/articles/how-to-make-money-on-roblox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129031731/https://en.softonic.com/articles/how-to-make-money-on-roblox |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=April 24, 2018 |website=[[Softonic]]}}</ref>

==== Scams ====
A sizable amount of [[scams]] relate to Roblox, largely revolving around automated messages promoting scam websites, scam games designed to appear to give out free Robux, and invalid Robux codes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Han |first=Nydia |date=June 15, 2018 |title=Action News Troubleshooters: Spotting video game scams |work=[[WPVI-TV]] |url=https://6abc.com/video-games-roblox-robux-fortnight/3603994/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127235823/https://6abc.com/video-games-roblox-robux-fortnight/3603994/ |archive-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Book" /> In the Roblox community, there are people known as "beamers" who [[Cybercrime|compromise]] Roblox accounts to steal and sell their items on black markets. They employ various techniques, such as creating [[phishing]] websites or ploys to acquire a victim's [[Authentication cookie|login token]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=February 14, 2022 |title=A new report on Roblox reveals how hackers and scammers are continuing to rip off kids |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/a-new-report-on-roblox-reveals-how-hackers-and-scammers-are-continuing-to-rip-off-kids/}}</ref> Once they gain access to the victim's account, these "beamers" steal and subsequently sell valuable limited items owned by the victims for real-world currency or cryptocurrency through marketplace sites or [[Discord]] chatrooms. The slang term "beaming" is commonly used to describe this entire process, along with the victim having been "beamed". Roblox does offer hacking victims a "rollback" for their items, although this is only offered once per account.<ref name="vice"/>

=== Events ===
Roblox occasionally hosts real-life and virtual events. They have in the past hosted events such as BloxCon, which was a convention for ordinary players on the platform.<ref name="heavy" /> Roblox operates annual [[Easter egg hunts]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomlinson |first=Gayle |date=April 8, 2020 |title=Roblox Easter Egg Hunt 2020 will make being in isolation the best thing this Easter |work=[[The Canberra Times]] |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6716010/roblox-has-an-easter-egg-hunt-to-help-you-through-the-weekend/#gsc.tab=0 |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> and also hosts an annual event called the "Bloxy Awards", an [[awards ceremony]] that also functions as a fundraiser. The 2020 edition of the Bloxy Awards, held virtually on the platform, drew 600,000 viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Roblox's in-game Bloxy Awards draw 600,000 spectators |url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/03/23/robloxs-in-game-bloxy-awards-drawn-4-million-concurrent-players/ |access-date=July 21, 2020 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Roblox's continuing construction of a social, creative space |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-04-robloxs-continuing-construction-of-a-social-creative-space |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> In 2022, "Bloxy Awards" got rebranded into the "Roblox Innovation Awards".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://progameguides.com/roblox/annual-roblox-bloxy-awards-revamped-into-roblox-innovation-awards/ |title=Annual Roblox Bloxy Awards revamped into Roblox Innovation Awards |website=Pro Game Guides |first=Grace |last=Doyle |date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=December 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322152153/https://progameguides.com/roblox/annual-roblox-bloxy-awards-revamped-into-roblox-innovation-awards/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Roblox Corporation annually hosts the Roblox Developers Conference, a three-day invite-only event in [[San Francisco]] where top [[User Generated Content|content creators]] on the site learn of upcoming changes to the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=August 13, 2019 |title=Roblox announces new game-creation tools and marketplace, $100M in 2019 developer revenue |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/12/roblox-announces-new-game-creation-tools-and-marketplace-100m-in-2019-developer-revenue/ |access-date=March 28, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> The company has also hosted similar events in [[London]] and [[Amsterdam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapple |first=Craig |date=August 11, 2019 |title=$100m dev payouts, 1.2 billion hours of engagement a month: What we learned at the Roblox Developers Conference |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/71372/what-we-learned-at-the-roblox-developer-conference/ |access-date=April 23, 2020 |website=[[Pocket Gamer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=YoSoyTofu |date=August 31, 2018 |title=Thanks for a Wonderful RDC 2018 in Amsterdam! |url=https://blog.roblox.com/2018/08/thanks-wonderful-rdc-2018-amsterdam/ |access-date=August 30, 2019 |website=Roblox Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>

Roblox occasionally engages in events to promote films, such as ones held to promote ''[[Wonder Woman 1984]]'' and ''[[Aquaman (film)|Aquaman]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Roblox teams with Warner Bros. and DC on Wonder Woman: The Themyscira Experience |url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/25/roblox-teams-with-warner-bros-and-dc-on-wonder-woman-the-themyscira-experience/ |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=December 21, 2018 |title=How Warner Bros. Uses a Video Game to Fuel Interest in Its Movies |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/roblox-warner-bros-movie-crossover-1203094353/ |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, Roblox hosted its first [[virtual concert]], which was compared by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' to that of American rapper [[Travis Scott]]'s virtual concert in ''[[Fortnite Battle Royale|Fortnite]]'',<ref name=Stoned/> during which American rapper [[Lil Nas X]] debuted his song "[[Holiday (Lil Nas X song)|Holiday]]" to an audience of Roblox players.<ref name="Stoned">{{Cite news |last=Millman |first=Ethan |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Lil Nas X to Play Virtual Concert on Roblox |work=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/lil-nas-x-roblox-virtual-show-1087921/ |access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=November 11, 2020 |title=Roblox to host its first virtual concert, featuring Lil Nas X |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/10/roblox-to-host-its-first-virtual-concert-featuring-lil-nas-x/ |access-date=November 14, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116222741/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/11/10/roblox-to-host-its-first-virtual-concert-featuring-lil-nas-x/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rowley |first=Glenn |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Lil Nas X Will Debut New Single 'Holiday' During Virtual Roblox Concert |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9481300/lil-nas-x-roblox-concert-details/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> In 2021, Swedish singer [[Zara Larsson]] performed songs at a virtual party to celebrate her the reissuing of her album ''[[Poster Girl (album)|Poster Girl]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 21, 2021 |title=Roblox: Zara Larsson performing new album – and other virtual concerts |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC Newsround]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/57186245 |access-date=May 22, 2021}}</ref> On September 17, 2021, a virtual concert by the American band [[Twenty One Pilots]] took place.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=September 8, 2021 |title=Roblox will launch Twenty One Pilots virtual concert |url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/09/08/roblox-will-launch-twenty-one-pilots-virtual-concert/ |access-date=September 9, 2021 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=September 8, 2021 |title=Twenty One Pilots to Stage Elaborate Roblox 'Concert Experience' |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/twenty-one-pilots-21-roblox-concert-experience-1235058749/ |access-date=September 9, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In October 2021, Roblox partnered with [[Chipotle Mexican Grill]] to give $1&nbsp;million of burritos away to the first 30,000 people every day as a part of Chipotle's Halloween Boorito promotion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lalley |first=Heather |date=October 26, 2021 |title=CHIPOTLE Launches a Truly 'Virtual' Restaurant via Roblox |url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/marketing/chipotle-launches-truly-virtual-restaurant-roblox |website=Restaurant Business Online}}</ref>

== History ==
{{multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = First Roblox Logo.svg
| caption1          = 2004
| image2            = Roblox Logo 2004.svg
| caption2          = 2004–2005
| image3            = ROBLOX 2004.svg
| caption3          = 2005–2006
| image4            = Roblox logo (2006).png
| caption4          = 2006–2015
| image5            = Roblox logo.svg
| caption5          = 2015–2017
| image6            = Roblox logo 2017.svg
| caption6          = 2017–2018
| image7            = Roblox Logo Black.svg
| caption7          = 2018–2022
| image8            = Roblox Logo 2022.svg
| caption8          = 2022–present
| footer            = Evolution of the Roblox logo<ref name="Logo">{{Cite web |last=Baszucki |first=David |author-link=David Baszucki |date=January 10, 2017 |title=Introducing Our Next-Generation Logo |url=https://blog.roblox.com/2017/01/introducing-our-next-generation-logo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110161305/https://blog.roblox.com/2017/01/introducing-our-next-generation-logo/ |archive-date=January 10, 2017 |access-date=July 16, 2020 |website=Roblox Blog}}</ref><ref name="Logo2022">{{Cite news |last=Meers |first=Whitney |date=August 30, 2022 |title=New Roblox logo and tagline show the company is growing up |work=PCGamesN |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/roblox/new-roblox-logo |access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref>
}}

=== 2004–2005 ===
The [[beta version]] of Roblox was created by co-founders [[David Baszucki]] and Erik Cassel in 2004 under the name ''DynaBlocks''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vashishtha |first=Yashica |date=July 24, 2019 |title=David Baszucki : Founder of Roblox, the Biggest Video Game Building Platform |url=https://www.yourtechstory.com/2019/07/24/david-baszucki-founder-roblox-biggest-video-game-building-platform/ |access-date=September 2, 2019 |website=Your Tech Story |language=en-US}}</ref> Baszucki started testing the first demos that year.<ref name="inc">{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Neil |date=July 15, 2016 |title=How This User-Generated Video Game Is Leading The Way With Innovation and VR |url=https://www.inc.com/neil-c-hughes/how-this-user-generated-video-game-is-leading-the-way-with-innovation-and-vr.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129215529/https://www.inc.com/neil-c-hughes/how-this-user-generated-video-game-is-leading-the-way-with-innovation-and-vr.html |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2017 |website=[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]]}}</ref> In 2005, the company changed its name to Roblox.<ref name="inc" />

=== 2006–2013 ===
Roblox officially launched on September 1, 2006.<ref name="founding" /> In March 2007, Roblox became compliant with [[COPPA]] through the addition of safe chat, a change that limited the communication ability of users under the age of 13 by restricting them to selecting predefined messages from a menu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dickson |first=Jeremy |date=June 23, 2015 |title=SuperAwesome and Roblox join forces on kid-safe advertising |url=http://kidscreen.com/2015/06/23/superawesome-and-roblox-join-forces-on-kid-safe-advertising/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129222253/http://kidscreen.com/2015/06/23/superawesome-and-roblox-join-forces-on-kid-safe-advertising/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref> In August, Roblox applied server improvements and released a premium membership service named "Builders Club",<ref>{{Cite book |last=LaRouche |first=Brandon John |title=Basic ROBLOX Lua Programming |date=March 31, 2012 |publisher=Double Trouble Studio |isbn=978-0-9854513-0-1 |page=237}}</ref> which was rebranded as Roblox Premium in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=coefficients |date=September 23, 2019 |title=Roblox Premium is here! |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-premium-is-here/355721 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=Roblox Developer Forum |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2011, Roblox held its first Hack Week, an annual event where Roblox developers work on outside-the-box ideas for new developments to present to the company.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milian |first=Mark |date=December 2, 2012 |title=Hackathons move beyond Silicon Valley |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Hackathons-move-beyond-Silicon-Valley-4085718.php |url-status=live |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129232929/https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Hackathons-move-beyond-Silicon-Valley-4085718.php |archive-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chaykowski |first=Kathleen |date=August 31, 2012 |title=Lua language helps kids create software |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Lua-language-helps-kids-create-software-3828132.php |url-status=live |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129233534/https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Lua-language-helps-kids-create-software-3828132.php |archive-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> On December 11, 2012, an [[iOS]] version of Roblox was released.<ref name="iOSR">{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=December 12, 2012 |title=Block-builder Roblox goes mobile in time for the holidays |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/12/12/roblox-mobile-ipad-iphone-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129233810/https://venturebeat.com/2012/12/12/roblox-mobile-ipad-iphone-now/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref> On October 1, 2013, Roblox released its Developer Exchange program, allowing developers to exchange Robux earned from their games into real-world currencies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=June 6, 2014 |title=Roblox is gaming's quiet giant – and it's only getting bigger |url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/06/06/roblox-is-gamings-quiet-giant-and-its-only-getting-bigger/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129235317/https://venturebeat.com/2014/06/06/roblox-is-gamings-quiet-giant-and-its-only-getting-bigger/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=April 24, 2018 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref>

=== 2014–2017 ===
On July 16, 2014, an [[Android (operating system)|Android]] version was released.<ref name=AndroidRelease/> On May 31, 2015, a feature called Smooth Terrain was added, increasing the graphical fidelity of in-game terrain and changing the Roblox physics engine from a block-oriented style to a smoother and more realistic one.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=June 1, 2015 |title=Roblox user-generated world moves from blocky terrain to smooth 3D |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/06/01/roblox-user-generated-world-moves-from-blocky-to-smooth-3d-terrain/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129235824/https://venturebeat.com/2015/06/01/roblox-user-generated-world-moves-from-blocky-to-smooth-3d-terrain/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=June 3, 2015 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref> On November 20, Roblox was launched on [[Xbox One]], with an initial selection of 15 games chosen by Roblox staff.<ref name="XboxOneRelease">{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=September 24, 2015 |title=Roblox comes to Xbox One, joins Minecraft in the growing player-made content space on consoles |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/09/24/roblox-comes-to-xbox-one/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130001239/https://venturebeat.com/2015/09/24/roblox-comes-to-xbox-one/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref> Support for the publishing of Roblox games for Xbox One was later rolled out to all users, subject to an approval process based on [[Entertainment Software Ratings Board]] standards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=January 27, 2016 |title=Roblox launches on Xbox One with 15 player-created games – watch us play them |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/01/27/roblox-launches-on-xbox-one-with-15-player-created-games-watch-us-play-them/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130001719/https://venturebeat.com/2016/01/27/roblox-launches-on-xbox-one-with-15-player-created-games-watch-us-play-them/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref>

In April 2016, Roblox launched ''Roblox VR'' for [[Oculus Rift]]. At the time of release, more than ten million games were available in 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaudiosi |first=John |date=April 15, 2016 |title=This Company Just Introduced 20 Million People to Oculus Rift |url=http://fortune.com/2016/04/15/roblox-vr-oculus-rift/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130002929/http://fortune.com/2016/04/15/roblox-vr-oculus-rift/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=December 13, 2016 |website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]}}</ref> Around the same time period, the safe chat feature was removed and replaced by a system based on a [[whitelist]] with a set of acceptable words for users under 13 years old and a set of [[blacklist]]ed words for other users.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roblox |url=https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/games-apps-and-social-networking/roblox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130003250/https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/games-apps-and-social-networking/roblox |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=December 13, 2016 |website=Office of the eSafety Commissioner |publisher=[[Government of Australia]]}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2020}} In June, the company launched a version compatible with [[Windows 10]]. While the game platform has had a presence on the PC since 2004, when its web version was created, this was the first time it was upgraded with a standalone launcher built for Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=June 10, 2016 |title=After Xbox One success, Roblox now has a dedicated Windows 10 app |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/06/10/after-xbox-one-success-roblox-now-has-a-dedicated-windows-10-app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130003633/https://venturebeat.com/2016/06/10/after-xbox-one-success-roblox-now-has-a-dedicated-windows-10-app/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref> Throughout 2017, Roblox engaged in a number of updates to its server technology, as the technology they were operating on until that point was out of date and led to frequent outages.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Ron |date=October 1, 2020 |title=How Roblox completely transformed its tech stack |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/09/how-roblox-completely-transformed-its-tech-stack/ |access-date=October 14, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> Also in 2017, Roblox closed its official [[Internet forum|forums]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Kyle |date=December 15, 2021 |title=Roblox is facing accusations of being unsafe for children |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/12/roblox-facing-accusations-unsafe-children |access-date=December 19, 2021 |website=[[USA Today|For The Win]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2018–2023 ===
In November 2018, the ability for a player to play as a "guest", without an account, which had been progressively restricted over the previous two years, was removed entirely.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaz |first=Christian |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Roblox guest – what are guests and what happened to them |url=https://www.pockettactics.com/roblox/guest |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=Pocket Tactics}}</ref> In July 2020, Roblox announced the creation of "Party Place", which functions as an online [[Meeting point|hangout]]. The feature was created using new technology that had been used during the 2020 Bloxy Awards and was designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=July 21, 2020 |title=Roblox launches Party Place, a private venue for virtual birthday parties and other meetups |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/20/roblox-launches-party-place-a-private-venue-for-virtual-birthday-parties-and-other-meetups/ |access-date=July 21, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> Roblox was granted permission to release in China on December 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=December 3, 2020 |title=Roblox cleared for launch in China |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-12-03-roblox-cleared-for-launch-in-china#:~:text=Roblox%20is%20officially%20heading%20to,date%20has%20been%20given%20yet. |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=Games Industry |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref>

In October 2021, Roblox experienced its longest [[downtime]] to date, with services being unavailable for three days.<ref name="outage-bundle">{{Cite news |last=Plant |first=Logan |date=October 30, 2021 |title=Roblox's Servers Are Down And Fans Are Blaming Chipotle |language=en |work=[[IGN]] |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/roblox-servers-down-chipotle-free-burritos |access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Finnis |first=Alex |date=October 29, 2021 |title=Is Roblox down? Why the gaming platform isn't working today with thousands of users reporting login problems |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]] |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/gaming/robox-down-isnt-working-today-login-problems-latest-news-1274363}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=October 30, 2021 |title=Roblox has been down for more than a day and it's not because of Chipotle |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/30/22754107/roblox-down-outage-chipotle-server-issues-status |access-date=October 30, 2021 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> In December 2021, Roblox shut down its Chinese servers, stating that they were attempting to create "another version" of the app that allowed Chinese players to access the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirton |first=David |date=January 7, 2022 |title=Roblox takes down China app, says building another version |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/roblox-takes-down-china-app-says-building-another-version-2022-01-07/ |access-date=February 3, 2023 |website=[[Reuters]] |editor1=Carmel Crimmins}}</ref> In July 2022, an archive of internal documents related to the platform's activities in China were leaked by an unidentified hacker. This document revealed that the Roblox Corporation had planned to roll out a variety of changes to the platform to comply with [[Internet censorship in China|Chinese internet censorship laws]], and that prior to halting their operations in China they had been concerned that [[Tencent]] would hack the platform and attempt to set up a competitor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Joseph |date=July 26, 2022 |title=Revealed: Documents Show How Roblox Planned to Bend to Chinese Censorship |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxndpx/revealed-documents-show-how-roblox-planned-to-bend-to-chinese-censorship |access-date=July 18, 2022 |website=[[Motherboard (website)|Motherboard]] |publisher=Vice Media Group LLC}}</ref>

In September 2022, Roblox Corporation announced that it planned to add an age rating system, which would allow for moderate portrayals of violence in games flagged as suitable for players aged 13 and over. The company stated that it wanted to increase the platform's appeal to a [[young adult]] audience of users 17–24, which it stated was the fastest-growing demographic on Roblox.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liao |first=Shannon |date=September 9, 2022 |title=Roblox wants to advertise to gamers ages 13 and up in the metaverse |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/09/09/roblox-ads-metaverse/ |access-date=September 9, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On June 20, 2023, Roblox started allowing games rated as only for players 17 years and over, which are permitted to have more [[graphic violence]], romantic themes, and alcohol usage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Alex |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Roblox will allow exclusive experiences for people 17 and over |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/20/23767154/roblox-adult-themes-graphic-content-age-limit-17-experiences |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</ref>

On July 27, 2023, Roblox was released as a public beta for the [[Meta Quest 2]] and [[Meta Quest Pro]].<ref name="QuestBeta" /> The beta was downloaded over one million times within five days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castellaw |first=Christopher |date=August 4, 2023 |title=The Meta Quest Roblox Beta Has Over 1 Million Downloads Already |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/943431-roblox-quest-beta-downloaded-over-1-million-times |access-date=August 5, 2023 |website=GameRevolution |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2023, it was announced that Roblox would be made available on the [[PlayStation]] the following month, with the Meta Quest versions being made publicly available later in September.<ref name="PSRelease" /><ref name="QuestRelease" /> Around the same time, Roblox Corporation acquired Speechly, a [[Helsinki]]-headquartered [[startup]] specializing in [[artificial intelligence]] voice chat moderation technology, for an undisclosed price.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sophie McEvoy Staff |date=September 25, 2023 |title=Roblox acquires AI voice moderation start-up Speechly |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-acquires-ai-voice-moderation-start-up-speechly |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2024–present ===
In March 2024, two [[generative artificial intelligence]] tools were introduced to Roblox Studio in an effort to speed up content creation: automatic avatar customization and a texture generator. The avatar customization feature automatically converts three-dimensional body meshes into live-animated avatars, and the texture generator allows users to create textures of objects using text descriptions through a [[text-to-image model]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rousseau |first=Jeffrey|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-unveils-new-ai-powered-creation-tools-news-in-brief|title=Roblox unveils new AI-powered creation tools|website=Games Industry |date=March 20, 2024|access-date=March 25, 2024|archive-date=March 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320134636/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-unveils-new-ai-powered-creation-tools-news-in-brief |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Irwin |first=Kate |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/ai/151470/roblox-launches-new-generative-ai-texture-and-avatar-tools-for-creators|title=Roblox Launches New Generative AI Texture and Avatar Tools for Creators|website=[[PCMag]] |date=March 18, 2024|access-date=March 25, 2024|archive-date=March 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319070357/https://uk.pcmag.com/ai/151470/roblox-launches-new-generative-ai-texture-and-avatar-tools-for-creators |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Community and culture==
===Activism===
Users of Roblox have been noted for their efforts against [[racism]], with numerous regular users and co-founder Baszucki having declared their support for the [[George Floyd protests]] and [[Black Lives Matter]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Barry |date=June 3, 2020 |title=David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox sends a heartfelt message in a recent blog post |url=https://www.entertainment-focus.com/games-section/game-news/david-baszucki-founder-and-ceo-of-roblox-sends-a-heartfelt-message-in-a-recent-blog-post/ |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=Entertainment Focus}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker-Pope |first=Tara |author-link=Tara Parker-Pope |date=June 24, 2020 |title=How to Raise an Anti-Racist Kid |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/well/family/how-to-raise-an-anti-racist-kid.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127234351/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/well/family/how-to-raise-an-anti-racist-kid.html |archive-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> In August 2019, an investigation by [[NBC News]] revealed over 100 accounts linked to [[far-right]] and [[neo-Nazi]] groups. After being contacted about the accounts by NBC, Roblox moderators removed them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farivar |first=Cyrus |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Extremists creep into Roblox, an online game popular with children |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/extremists-creep-roblox-online-game-popular-children-n1045056 |url-status=live |access-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311180608/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/extremists-creep-roblox-online-game-popular-children-n1045056 |archive-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref>

===Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic===
The [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry|COVID-19 pandemic]] has affected Roblox in numerous ways. Due to quarantines imposed by the pandemic limiting social interaction, Roblox was being used as a way for children to communicate with each other.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=June 29, 2020 |title=Roblox: How teens are using games to cope with the pandemic |url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/29/roblox-how-teens-are-using-games-to-cope-with-the-pandemic/ |access-date=July 4, 2020 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref> One of the most noted ways that this method of communication is being carried out is the phenomenon of birthday parties being held on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kharif |first=Olga |date=April 15, 2020 |title=Kids Flock to Roblox for Parties and Playdates During Lockdown |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-15/kids-flock-to-roblox-for-parties-and-playdates-during-lockdown |url-status=live |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319084441/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-15/kids-flock-to-roblox-for-parties-and-playdates-during-lockdown |archive-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=April 6, 2020 |title=Creative ways to host a virtual birthday party for kids |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/06/creative-ways-to-host-a-virtual-birthday-party-for-kids/ |access-date=July 4, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> COVID-19 has caused a substantial increase in both the platform's revenue and the number of players on it, in line with similar effects experienced by the majority of the gaming industry, as players forced to remain indoors due to [[COVID-19 lockdowns]] spent more time playing video games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=July 1, 2020 |title=Global app revenue jumps to $50B in the first half of 2020, in part due to COVID-19 impacts |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/30/global-app-revenue-jumps-to-50b-in-the-first-half-of-2020-in-part-due-to-covid-19-impacts/ |access-date=July 14, 2020 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hetfield |first=Malindy |date=July 22, 2020 |title=Roblox is now the game of choice for over half of all US kids |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/au/roblox-is-now-the-game-of-choice-for-over-half-of-all-us-kids/ |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>

The Roblox platform has also been used to stage virtual [[religious procession]]s in lieu of in-person ceremonies due to quarantine restrictions, such as a server by devotees of the [[Black Nazarene]] in [[Quiapo, Manila]] where models based on the icon of the Black Nazarene and other icons were made.<ref name="nazareno">{{Cite web |title='Virtual' na paggunita sa Pista ng Nazareno nagsimula na |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/03/22/virtual-na-paggunita-sa-pista-ng-nazareno-nagsimula-na |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=[[ABS-CBN News]]}}</ref> Similar virtual processions and religious ceremonies have also been staged by various [[Roman Catholic]] parishes in the Philippines and other countries by religious youth organizations.<ref name="catholic">{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2023 |title=The surprising trend of virtual Catholic Masses on Roblox |url=https://aleteia.org/2023/01/31/the-surprising-trend-of-virtual-catholic-masses-on-roblox/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=Aleteia |language=en}}</ref>

==="Oof" sound effect===
From its release until November 2020, Roblox{{'}}s sound effect for when a character dies was a sound commonly transcribed and titled as "oof", which became a substantial part of the platform's reputation due to its status as a [[Internet meme|meme]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beckheling |first=Imogen |date=November 12, 2020 |title=Roblox will soon charge for the memey "oof" death noise |work=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/12/roblox-will-soon-charge-for-the-memey-oof-death-noise/ |access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> The sound was originally produced by Joey Kuras<ref>{{cite news|title=Roblox's iconic 'oof' sound removed due to licensing|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/roblox/oof-removed|access-date=September 10, 2023|work=PCGamesN|date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> for the studio of video game composer [[Tommy Tallarico]] for the video game ''[[Messiah (video game)|Messiah]]'' produced in 2000. This caused the two to enter a copyright dispute, which ended in 2022 when Roblox pulled the sound from their platform and replaced it with a new one.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Say goodbye to Roblox's iconic 'oof' sound effect |url=https://www.polygon.com/23280931/roblox-oof-sound-effect-replaced-copyright-licensing |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Mollie |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Oof, the iconic Roblox death noise has been replaced with a way uglier sound |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/oof-the-iconic-roblox-death-noise-has-been-replaced-with-a-way-uglier-sound/ |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref>

== Reception and revenue ==

=== Games ===
{{See also|List of Roblox games}}
[[File:Roblox game screenshot.png|thumb|A screenshot of ''Natural Disaster Survival'', a game on Roblox]]
Due to its status as a user-created games platform, Roblox has a variety of popular games. As of May 2020, the most popular games on Roblox had over 10 million monthly active players each. As of August 2020, at least 20 games had been played more than one billion times, and at least 5,000 have been played more than one million times.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 21, 2020 |title=Gamers are logging millions of hours a day on Roblox |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/08/21/gamers-are-logging-millions-of-hours-a-day-on-roblox |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328183921/https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/08/21/gamers-are-logging-millions-of-hours-a-day-on-roblox |archive-date=March 28, 2021}}</ref> ''[[TechCrunch]]'' noted in March 2021 that Roblox games are largely distinct from established traditions in [[free-to-play]] video games, finding that successful Roblox games were geared towards immediate satisfaction, and finding that the addition of [[Tutorial (video games)|tutorials]] significantly decreased player engagement, contrary to established wisdom about free-to-play games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferencz |first=Joe |date=March 27, 2021 |title=5 mistakes creators make building new games on Roblox |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/26/5-mistakes-creators-make-building-new-games-on-roblox/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328104324/https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/26/5-mistakes-creators-make-building-new-games-on-roblox/ |archive-date=March 28, 2021 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |website=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> Companies have used Roblox as a platform for [[advergames]] promoting their products.<ref name="Polygon ad" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCracken |first=Harry |date=April 19, 2023 |title=Roblox grows up |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90878692/roblox-grows-up |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=[[Fast Company]] |publisher=Fast Company, Inc}}</ref><ref name="TheObserverRoblox">{{cite web |last1=Bains |first1=Collum |title='Advergames': how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |website=[[The Observer]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |access-date=August 1, 2024 |date=July 13, 2024}}</ref>

===Revenue===
During the 2017 Roblox Developers Conference, officials said that creators on the game platform, of which there were about 1.7&nbsp;million as of 2017,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weinberger |first=Matt |date=May 9, 2017 |title=This game turned players into $50,000-a-month entrepreneurs – now it has a plan to help them make $1.68&nbsp;million a year |work=[[Business Insider]] |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/roblox-vp-of-developer-relations-grace-francisco-2017-5 |url-status=live |access-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130004003/https://www.businessinsider.com/roblox-vp-of-developer-relations-grace-francisco-2017-5 |archive-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> collectively earned at least $30&nbsp;million in 2017.<ref name="engadget">{{Cite web |last=Conditt |first=Jessica |date=July 22, 2017 |title=Hobbyist developers will make $30&nbsp;million via 'Roblox' this year |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/22/roblox-30-million-pay-out-developers-2017-how/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129211723/https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/22/roblox-30-million-pay-out-developers-2017-how/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=October 10, 2017 |website=[[Engadget]]}}</ref> The iOS version of Roblox passed $1&nbsp;billion of lifetime revenue in November 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanley |first=Patrick |date=November 25, 2019 |title='Roblox Mobile' Crosses $1B in Lifetime Revenue |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/roblox-mobile-crosses-1b-lifetime-revenue-1257935 |access-date=June 15, 2020 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> $1.5&nbsp;billion in June 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Partleton |first=Kayleigh |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Roblox Mobile hits $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/73751/roblox-mobile-one-and-a-half-billion-usd-lifetime-revenue/ |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=[[Pocket Gamer]]}}</ref> and $2&nbsp;billion in October 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Partleton |first=Kayleigh |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Roblox surpasses $2 billion in player spending on mobile |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/74828/roblox-surpasses-2-billion-in-player-spending/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |website=[[Pocket Gamer]]}}</ref> making it the iOS app with the second-highest revenue.<ref name="Levy">{{Cite news |last=Levy |first=Ari |date=April 8, 2020 |title=While parents Zoom, their kids are flocking to an app called Roblox to hang out and play 3D games |work=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/08/roblox-is-seeing-a-surge-during-coronavirus-shelter-in-place.html |access-date=June 27, 2020}}</ref> Several individual games on Roblox have accumulated revenues of over $10&nbsp;million,<ref name="Ling">{{Cite web |last1=Handrahan |first1=Matthew |last2=Ling |first2=Josh |date=July 21, 2020 |title=Adopt Me: The most popular game you've never played |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-21-adopt-me-interview |access-date=July 25, 2020 |website=Games Industry |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref> while developers as a whole on the platform were collectively projected to have earned around $250&nbsp;million over the course of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawver |first=Bryan |date=July 28, 2020 |title=Roblox Developers To Make $250 Million In 2020 Thanks To Explosive Growth |url=https://screenrant.com/roblox-creators-250-million-2020-monthly-players/ |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> It became the third highest-grossing [[2020 in video games|game of 2020]], with a revenue of {{US$|2.29&nbsp;billion|long=no}}, below the [[Tencent]] titles ''[[PUBG]]'' and ''[[Honor of Kings]]''.<ref name="SuperData2020">{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Games and interactive media earnings rose 12% to $139.9B in 2020 |url=https://www.superdataresearch.com/blog/2020-year-in-review |url-access=registration |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106144257/https://www.superdataresearch.com/blog/2020-year-in-review |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=[[SuperData Research]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Company]]}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
Roblox has generally received positive reviews.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} [[Common Sense Media]] gave it 4 out of 5 stars, praising the website's variety of games and ability to encourage creativity in children while finding that the decentralized nature of the platform meant game quality varied, and recommended disabling chat functions for young players to prevent possibly harmful interactions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brereton |first=Erin |date=November 14, 2019 |title=Roblox |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/roblox |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=[[Common Sense Media]]}}</ref> Patricia E. Vance of the [[Family Online Safety Institute]] advised parents to monitor their child's interactions on the platform but praised the platform for "...allowing kids to play, explore, socialize, create and learn in a self-directed way", and granting special praise to Roblox Studio for its ability to encourage children to experience game development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vance |first=Patricia E. |date=December 19, 2018 |title=What Parents Need To Know About Roblox |url=https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/what-parents-need-know-about-roblox/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708131228/https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/what-parents-need-know-about-roblox/ |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |access-date=June 27, 2020 |website=[[Family Online Safety Institute]]}}</ref> ''[[Trusted Reviews]]'', in its overview of the platform, also praised Roblox Studio, stating that "for anyone seeking to develop their computer science skills, or create projects that will instantly receive feedback from a huge audience, the appeal is obvious".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahboubian-Jones |first=Justin |date=December 15, 2016 |title=What is Roblox? The world's most popular game you might not have heard of |url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/what-is-roblox-the-world-s-most-popular-game-you-might-not-have-heard-of-2946534 |access-date=August 1, 2016 |website=[[Trusted Reviews]] |publisher=[[TI Media]]}}</ref> Craig Hurda, writing in ''Android Guys'', gave a more moderate review, praising the number of games available and finding that the game was entertaining for children, while also finding that the platform's audio was "hit-or-miss" and declaring that it had limited appeal for adult players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hurda |first=Craig |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Roblox is waaayy more than a game (Review) |url=https://www.androidguys.com/news/roblox-is-waaayy-more-than-a-game-review/ |access-date=August 23, 2020 |website=Android Guys}}</ref>

===Restrictions by country===
[[File:Map of Roblox restrictions by country.svg|thumb|Roblox restrictions by country]]
Roblox is [[Video game censorship|banned]] in seven countries: [[China]], [[Guatemala]], [[Jordan]], [[North Korea]], [[Oman]], [[Turkey]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Chapple |first=Craig |date=2024-08-07 |title=Turkey blocks access to Roblox |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/turkey-blocks-access-to-roblox/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.pocketgamer.biz |language=en}}</ref> and the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name="robloxbancountry">{{cite web |last1=Muhammad Ebrahim |first1=Naeem |title=Is Roblox Illegal? 6 Countries Where It Is |url=https://gamevoyagers.com/is-roblox-illegal-6-countries-where-it-is/ |website=[[Game Voyagers]] |access-date=25 July 2024}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2024}} China has banned Roblox due to its American origin and perceived [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] [[Communist propaganda|propaganda]], aiming to protect Chinese children from anti-communist influences. Instead, [[Roblox Corporation]] released a Chinese version of Roblox, called Luobulesi, in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Partis |first=Danielle |date=2022-07-28 |title=Leaked documents show Roblox agreement plans in China |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/leaked-documents-show-roblox-agreement-plans-in-china |work=[[Gamesindustry.biz]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Nic |date=2024-02-20 |title=Is Roblox Banned in China? Let's Explore the Facts |url=https://www.playbite.com/is-roblox-banned-in-china/ |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2024}} Guatemala has banned Roblox because the gaming platform violates laws and regulations regarding the safety and protection of children and adolescents. Jordan has banned Roblox due to concerns about foul language, scamming, and hacking, which it claims can harm children during puberty. North Korea has banned Roblox because the game allows users to chat with others worldwide, violating its laws on isolation. Oman has banned Roblox due to explicit and inappropriate content, along with concerns about hacking and scamming. Turkey has banned Roblox because the platform contains content that may lead to gambling and [[child sexual abuse]].<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stanton |first1=Rich |title=Turkey just straight-up banned Roblox for 'child exploitation' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/turkey-just-straight-up-banned-roblox-for-child-exploitation/ |website=[[PCGamer]] |access-date=10 August 2024 |date=8 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c0l8w6gr7zzo |title=Popüler oyun platformu Roblox 'çocuk istismarı' gerekçesiyle engellendi |trans-title=Popular gaming platform Roblox blocked for 'child abuse' |publisher=BBC |language=tr |date=7 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> The United Arab Emirates has banned Roblox out of fear that the game, targeted towards kids, may contain inappropriate content.<ref name="robloxbancountry"/>

In [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]], regulations restrict in-game items with randomized or unknown chances to suppress [[Gaming law|children's exposure to gambling]]. The [[United Kingdom]] and [[Norway]] have purportedly investigated in-game gambling, while 18 other European countries have promoted the idea of regulating such practices.<ref>{{cite web |title=The ultimate loot drop: the Netherlands is planning to ban loot boxes in video games |url=https://www.cliffordchance.com/insights/resources/blogs/talking-tech/en/articles/2022/09/the-ultimate-loot-drop-the-netherlands-is-planning-to-ban-loot.html |website=[[Clifford Chance]] |access-date=25 July 2024 |date=6 September 2022}}</ref>

=== Criticism and controversies ===

==== Inappropriate content and predatory behavior ====
Roblox has received widespread criticism for its chat filtration system.<ref name="Roblox criticism">{{Cite news |last1=Vengattil |first1=Munsif |last2=Munn |first2=Joseph |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Kids gaming platform Roblox faces hurdles ahead of public listing: rough words |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-gaming-roblox-content-focus/kids-gaming-platform-roblox-faces-hurdles-ahead-of-public-listing-rough-words-idUKKBN27Z1GK |url-status=dead |access-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228182015/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-gaming-roblox-content-focus/kids-gaming-platform-roblox-faces-hurdles-ahead-of-public-listing-rough-words-idUKKBN27Z1GK |archive-date=February 28, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Stonehouse |first=Rachel |date=May 29, 2020 |title=Roblox: 'I thought he was playing an innocent game' |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48450604 |access-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329041522/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48450604 |archive-date=March 29, 2021}}</ref> Although Roblox{{'}}s filtration system, Community Sift,<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Two Hat Security's User Reputation Patent Lets Community Sift Identify Disruptive Users |date=June 19, 2018 |publisher=Two Hat |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180619005306/en/Hat-Securitys-User-Reputation-Patent-Lets-Community |access-date=March 1, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310025755/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180619005306/en/Hat-Securitys-User-Reputation-Patent-Lets-Community |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |website=[[Business Wire]]}}</ref> censors and removes most inappropriate messages and content, it is possible to avoid the system, for example by using third-party chat apps.<ref name=":1" /> To combat these issues, Roblox has 1,600 people working to remove such content from the platform.<ref name="Roblox criticism" /> Roblox offers privacy settings; parents can limit what people a user can contact, restrict access to [[private servers]], and turn on [[parental controls]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Magid |first=Larry |date=November 5, 2020 |title=Larry Magid: Keeping kids safe on Roblox |work=[[The Mercury News]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/05/keeping-kids-safe-on-roblox/ |access-date=December 17, 2020}}</ref>

Though sexual content is prohibited on Roblox, the platform has received substantial criticism for the presence of sexually explicit games and imagery within it. This content includes items such as virtual [[sex clubs]] and [[nightclubs]], with creators of said content largely communicating through third-party platforms which cannot be regulated by Roblox moderators.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conklin |first=Audrey |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Roblox teen gamers engage in sexual behavior in platform's 'red light district': report |work=[[Fox Business]] |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/roblox-discord-teen-gamers-inappropriate |url-status=dead |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101115812/https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/roblox-discord-teen-gamers-inappropriate |archive-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> A 2020 investigation by ''[[Fast Company]]'' found that sexual content was still prevalent within Roblox, with attempts by moderators to remove it being likened to "whack-a-mole",<ref name="SLV">{{Cite web |last=Helm |first=Burt |date=August 19, 2020 |title=Sex, lies, and video games: Inside Roblox's war on porn |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90539906/sex-lies-and-video-games-inside-roblox-war-on-porn |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[Fast Company]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=November 21, 2020 |title=Roblox Goes Public, Says Child Pornography Is a Risk to Its Business |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdzxk/roblox-goes-public-says-child-pornography-is-a-risk-to-its-business |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201184039/https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdzxk/roblox-goes-public-says-child-pornography-is-a-risk-to-its-business |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=[[Vice Media|Motherboard]]}}</ref> though it was also found that the situation had generally improved in the recent years prior to the report.<ref name=SLV/> In an October 2022 interview, Roblox Chief Scientist Morgan McGuire stated that it's "a challenge to moderate 3D," and also compared moderating Roblox to shutting down [[speakeasy|speakeasies]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Chmielewski |first1=Dawn |last2=Dastin |first2=Jeffrey |date=October 11, 2022 |title=Roblox says policing virtual world is like 'shutting down speakeasies' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/reuters-momentum-roblox-says-policing-virtual-world-is-like-shutting-down-2022-10-11/ |access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>

These issues have led to numerous reports of [[Online predator|sexual predation on child players]], which a 2024 ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' report attributed to insufficient moderation, such as reliance on [[artificial intelligence]], and how users are anonymous. The report highlighted the case of Arnold "DoctorRofatnik" Castillo, the developer of a popular ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' fangame ''Sonic Eclipse Online''. After his personal account was banned for reports of preying on a child, he transferred the game to a friend's account and continued profiting from it. Roblox refused to take the game down, not seeing it as a safety concern; ''Sonic the Hedgehog''{{'}}s owner [[Sega]] was later notified and sent a takedown request for copyright infringement. Castillo was eventually arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison for transporting a child across interstate boundaries for sex. Statements of anonymous [[Roblox Corporation]] employees tell that the staff struggles with high numbers of child safety reports and claim that additional safety features, such as a pop-up notice, were rejected and safety settings are off by default. The report however noticed that Roblox has improved in moderation and reported more child predators than before.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Carville, Olivia |author2=D’Anastasio, Cecillia |title=Roblox's Pedophile Problem |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem/ |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |access-date=July 27, 2024 |date=July 22, 2024}}</ref> Roblox has claimed that the report's accusations are "glaring mischaracterizations" and "[fail] to reflect both the complexities of online child safety".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Vikki |title=Roblox reported over 13,000 incidents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2023 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-reported-over-13000-incidents-to-the-national-center-for-missing-and-exploited-children-in-2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=[[Gamer Network Limited]] |access-date=July 27, 2024 |date=July 23, 2024}}</ref>

==== Accusations of encouraging consumerism ====
Roblox has been criticized for making it easy for children to spend large sums of money through [[microtransactions]], leading to numerous instances where children have spent large sums of money on the platform without parents' knowledge,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thubron |first=Rob |date=July 6, 2020 |title=Dad discovers his 11-year-old daughter spent almost $6,000 on Roblox |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/85882-eleven-year-old-girl-spends-almost-6000-roblox.html |website=TechSpot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Roblox: Wrexham mum's warning after daughter's iPad bill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51328762 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> and deleting the accounts of players who file [[chargeback]]s or request refunds for Robux payments through their banks, card issuers or other third-party companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tims |first=Anna |date=March 11, 2020 |title=My kids spent £600 on their iPads without my knowledge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/mar/11/my-kids-spent-600-on-their-ipads-without-my-knowledge |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Professor Jane Juffer at [[Cornell University]] accused Roblox of encouraging [[consumerism]] in children.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Juffer |first=Jane |title=Don't use your words! : children's emotions in a networked world |date=2019 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=9781479833054 |location=New York}}</ref>

In April 2022, [[Truth in Advertising (organization)|Truth in Advertising]] filed a complaint against Roblox with the [[Federal Trade Commission]] for [[deceptive marketing]], mainly failing to disclose when advertising is present, such as with [[advergame]]s and [[brand ambassador]]s.<ref name="Polygon ad">{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=April 22, 2022 |title=Roblox is 'exploiting' users with deceptive advertising, watchdog group says |url=https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</ref> As a response, in March 2023, Roblox started hiding advertisements from users under the age of 13.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rousseau |first=Jeffrey |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Roblox will hide ads for users 13 and under |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-will-hide-ads-for-users-13-and-under |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref> However, this does not apply to advergames for that they are not designated as advertising by the platform, which has led to further criticism by Truth in Advertising and children's digital rights organization 5Rights. A Roblox spokesperson, through a statement in ''[[The Observer]]'', provided reasoning that engagement in advergames is not different from how consumers interact with brands through other mediums, such as films, and that the platform provides guidance for advergame creators and licensors.<ref name="TheObserverRoblox"/>

==== Extremism ====
In May 2021, researcher Daniel Kelley of the [[Anti-Defamation League]] reported that numerous games on Roblox have recreated [[mass shooting]]s, and criticized its moderation team for being unable to moderate them. An example of this were three different games that simulated the [[Christchurch mosque shootings]]. Later that year in June, Cecilia D'Anastasio of [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']] reported that numerous groups and games on Roblox that simulated real-world military units and regimes. including the [[Wehrmacht]]. An example that was provided was ''Innsbruck Border Simulator'', a game that had players play as Nazis, was reported to have gained over a million plays before being deleted by the Roblox team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandom |first=Russell |date=August 17, 2021 |title=Roblox is struggling to moderate re-creations of mass shootings |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/17/22628624/roblox-moderation-trust-and-safety-terrorist-content-christchurch |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=How 'Roblox' Became a Playground for Virtual Fascists |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/roblox-online-games-irl-fascism-roman-empire/ |access-date=November 27, 2023 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In 2023, ''[[Gamesindustry.biz]]'' reported that congresswoman [[Lori Trahan]] criticized numerous video game companies for failing to address questions on how to combat online extremism, but noted Roblox to be an exception, with them claiming to have a team dedicated to moderating extremist content. ''Gamesindustry.biz'', however, mentioned the company being criticized in the past for being unable to moderate games that recreated real world shootings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=March 3, 2023 |title=US Congress "disappointed" with companies' response to extremism concerns |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-congress-disappointed-with-companies-response-to-extremism-concerns |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

==== Alleged exploitative practices towards children ====
Roblox has been accused by the [[investigative journalism]] [[YouTube]] channel ''[[People Make Games]]'' of "[[Exploitation of labour|exploiting]]" child game developers by promising them huge amounts of money when they monetize their games, while only giving them little to no money in return by having high revenue cuts, an exchange rate in selling Robux lower than the rate for buying Robux, and lack of methods to make their games easily [[Discoverability|discoverable]]. This was likened to [[company scrip]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=August 20, 2021 |title=Roblox "exploiting" young game developers, new investigation reports |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-08-20-roblox-exploiting-young-game-developers-new-investigation-reports |access-date=December 4, 2021 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wen |first=Alan |date=August 20, 2021 |title='Roblox' is allegedly exploiting young game developers |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/roblox-is-allegedly-exploiting-young-game-developers-3024548 |access-date=December 4, 2021 |website=[[NME]] |publisher=[[BandLab Technologies]]}}</ref> In a discussion with ''[[Axios (website)|Axios]]'', ''Roblox's'' [[chief product officer]] (CPO) Manuel Bronstein responded by saying that Roblox intends to give more money to its community developers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Roblox outlines future for the virtual platform |language=en |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/roblox-outlines-future-for-the-virtual-platform-c45d9941-2412-485c-8cad-863cbd88b360.html |access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref>

After Roblox requested the channel to take down the video, ''People Make Games'' instead released further accusations of practices endangering [[child safety]], such as a lack of oversight of developers and a method for people to address developer abuse, leading to child developers being exploited for labor on third-party platforms, allowing a developer (later identified as Arnold Castillo) to seemingly continue monetizing and having control of game development despite having his personal account banned for reportedly [[Internet predation|sexually preying on a child]], running the collectibles market to function like [[gambling]] and thus encouraging children to seek unofficial and unsafe trading sites to easily obtain highly valuable items, and refusing to help a developer whose account was hacked and had its collectibles and assets stolen.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nightangale |first=Ed |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Roblox accused of being an unsafe environment for children |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-14-roblox-accused-of-being-unsafe-environment-for-children |access-date=December 17, 2021 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Roblox faces new allegations of being unsafe for children |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/roblox-faces-new-allegations-of-being-unsafe-for-children/ |access-date=December 17, 2021 |website=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future Publishing]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Roblox criticized for lack of safeguards for kids, stock-market-like collectibles |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-12-13-roblox-criticized-for-lack-of-safeguards-for-children-stock-market-like-collectibles |access-date=December 17, 2021 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref>

====Kardashian-Roblox scandal====
The series premiere of ''[[The Kardashians]]'', which debuted on April 14, 2022, titled "[[The Kardashians#Season 1 (2022)|Burn Them All to the F*cking Ground]]", led to a public feud between [[Kim Kardashian]] and Roblox.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Roblox banned developer behind game claiming to have Kim Kardashian's sex tape |url=https://www.polygon.com/23027350/kim-kardashian-sex-tape-roblox-saint |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=April 22, 2022 |title=The Kardashian-Roblox scandal continues to be messy and dumb |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-kardashian-roblox-scandal-continues-to-be-messy-and-dumb/ |publisher=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref> In the episode, Kim's son Saint West shows his mother an experience on the platform from a tablet that depicts an image of Kim crying.<ref name=":3" /> She claimed, however, that the person who uploaded the experience had also obtained footage of her and [[Ray J]]'s sex tape,<ref name=":2" /> and that she reacted by crying and claiming to later sue the company.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Mollie |date=April 19, 2022 |title=Roblox game claiming to have Kim Kardashian's sex tape ad was discovered by her son |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/roblox-game-claiming-to-have-kim-kardashians-sex-tape-was-discovered-by-her-son/ |access-date=July 18, 2024 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref> The veracity of this incident has been questioned, as Roblox's filters do not allow the words "sex tape" or variant spellings, and because given that Roblox had about 11.1&nbsp;million experiences at the time, the chances that Saint West would randomly stumble upon an experience promoting her sex tape are very small.<ref name=":3" />

A spokesperson for Roblox responded by saying "The referenced video was never available on our platform. We have strict moderation and policies to protect our community, including zero tolerance for sexual content of any kind which violates our community rules." and "The text reference to the tape that got around our filters was quickly taken down and fortunately visible only to an extremely small number of people on the platform. We also swiftly took down the associated experience and banned the community developer involved with the incident."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Kim Kardashian Threatened to Sue Roblox Over a Fake Sex Tape Game |url=https://sea.ign.com/roblox/184426/news/kim-kardashian-threatened-to-sue-roblox-over-a-fake-sex-tape-game |publisher=[[IGN|IGN SEA]]}}</ref> An individual close to the Kardashian family denied accusations of faking the event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tidy |first=Joe |date=April 22, 2022 |title=Kardashians deny faking Roblox sex tape scene |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61178189 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Jessica |date=April 22, 2022 |title=Home Reality TV Kardashians Reportedly Deny Roblox Incident Was Fake Amid Accusations |url=https://screenrant.com/kardashians-deny-accusations-sex-tape-roblox-incident-fake/ |publisher=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>

== Toy lines ==
In January 2017, toy fabricator Jazwares partnered with Roblox Corporation to produce toy minifigures based on [[user-generated content]] created by developers on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=January 10, 2017 |title=Roblox launches toys based on its user-generated games |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/01/10/roblox-launches-toys-based-on-its-user-generated-games/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130011005/https://venturebeat.com/2017/01/10/roblox-launches-toys-based-on-its-user-generated-games/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 7, 2017 |website=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref> The minifigures have limbs and joints similar to that of [[Lego minifigure]]s, though they are about twice the size.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Allan |date=April 23, 2020 |title=The best Roblox toy |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/consumer-reviews/sns-bestreviews-toys-the-best-roblox-toy-20200423-esndl5pf7rf7rh6o27h2o3zyui-story.html |access-date=July 21, 2020}}</ref> The minifigures have limbs and accessories that are interchangeable. The sets included a code that was used to redeem virtual items, as well as blind boxes that contained random minifigures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Mike |date=January 12, 2017 |title=Roblox Gets Into The Toy Business |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/01/roblox-gets-into-the-toy-business/ |access-date=September 3, 2020 |website=[[Kotaku|Kotaku Australia]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fennimore |first=Jack |date=August 2, 2017 |title=Roblox Toys Wave 2 Hits Store Shelves This August |url=https://heavy.com/games/2017/08/roblox-toys-wave-2-series-codes-figures-playsets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130011521/https://heavy.com/games/2017/08/roblox-toys-wave-2-series-codes-figures-playsets/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 7, 2017 |website=[[Heavy.com|Heavy]]}}</ref> In 2019, Jazwares released a new line of toys, branded as the "Roblox Desktop" series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Andy |date=February 19, 2019 |title=Roblox Toys Come Of Age With Collectable Desktop Series |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyrobertson/2019/02/19/roblox-toys-come-of-age-with-collectable-desktop-series/#712589037a6f |access-date=September 3, 2020 |website=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]}}</ref> On April 13, 2021, Roblox partnered with [[Hasbro]] to release Roblox-themed [[Nerf|Nerf blasters]] and a Roblox-themed ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]'' edition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tsai |first=Katie |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Roblox shares up after gaming platform partners with Hasbro for Monopoly and Nerf products |work=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/13/hasbro-partners-with-roblox-to-develop-monopoly-and-nerf-products.html |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|1=https://corp.roblox.com}}

{{Roblox Corporation}}
{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Video Game}}

{{Authority control}}

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