Unless you’re Rip Van Winkle or the North Pond Hermit, we bet you’ve heard the word “Roblox” in the last few years. The social gaming platform, which has more than 52 million active users daily, has taken the internet by storm and made us curious. But what exactly is Roblox?
Something important to know about Roblox in advance? children love IT. According to a recent earnings presentation, more than half of Roblox users are under the age of 13.
But even if you’re not among the core demographic of the platform, you should understand what Roblox is and why it’s so important to kids, adults and brands.
We have answers to all your questions about Roblox, even the questions you’re too afraid to ask the young person in your life.
What is Roblox?
Roblox is an application that allows users to play a wide variety of games, create games and chat with others online. The game combines social media and social commerce. Billing itself as the “ultimate virtual universe,” Roblox experiences are places where users can socialize, create their own space, and even earn and spend virtual currency.
Games on Roblox are officially called “experiences” that fall into various genres. Users can play in games labeled as role-playing, adventure, fighting, obby (obstacle courses), tycoon, simulator and more.
Adopt Me! Many of the most popular games in the app, including! And Brookhaven RP falls into the role-playing category. These are less games and more virtual hangouts. Millennials, think of them like the Club Penguin version of Gen Z. Other categories focus more on agility, strategy or skill.
While the platform itself is free, users can shop in each experience. A portion of the sales (about 28 cents per dollar spent) goes back to the creator of the game. This means that brands and makers of all ages can make money if the games they develop become popular. It truly takes user-generated content to a whole new level.
Need proof? Jailbreak, one of the most popular games on the platform, was built by young Alex Balfanz, who paid for his college degree entirely with Roblox earnings. Series game developer Alex Hicks made more than $1 million a year creating games for the platform before his 25th birthday.
Still not sure what Roblox actually does? If you don’t have a preteen to guide you, we suggest you try it yourself. To get started, first create an account and then download the app to your phone or computer. Once inside, you will have access to the game created by millions of users.
If you want to make your own games, you will need to download it. Roblox Studio“immersive creative engine” that allows users to create their own games.
Still have questions? We know, there is a lot to learn!
When was Roblox made?
Roblox was officially launched in September 2006. It may come as a surprise to many that Roblox is older than Snapchat, Discord, or even Instagram! This is because it took much longer for the platform to gain steam.
While Roblox co-founders David Baszucki and Erik Cassel officially debuted on the platform more than 15 years ago, it hasn’t started gaining traction in nearly a decade. And it really exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when the diary was active. The number of users increased by 40 percent.
How many people play Roblox?
The company reports that more than 52 million people play Roblox online every day, up 21% from last year.
Who uses Roblox?
Historically, Roblox has catered mostly to teens and adolescents, with the largest and busiest demographic being 9 to 12 year old boys.
However, the company recently reported that its users are “aging”. In a letter to shareholders, Roblox reported that its fastest growing demographic is 17- to 24-year-olds.
Source: Roblox
Roblox is popular worldwide. Players from the US and Canada have historically made up the largest share of the user base, with European player numbers surpassing US and Canadian players last year. Today, there are as many users in Asia as there are in the US and Canada.
Is Roblox free?
Yes, Roblox is free to download and most games on the platform are free to play. However, users can shop within the games to purchase upgrades, power-ups, outfits, accessories, skins, and more.
In-game purchases are made with the platform’s virtual currency Robux. These can be purchased for real money, earned or earned during the game. Users can also trade and sell items to other users in some games.
Who is the creator of Roblox?
Roblox was created by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, two engineers who started working on the platform’s prototype in 2004. Cassel served as executive director and vice president of engineering until he died of cancer in 2013. Baszucki is currently CEO.
What is the most popular game on Roblox?
With over 40 million games and counting, how do you know which Roblox experiences are worth your time? Starting with the most popular games on Roblox can help you get an idea of how millions of users interact with the app.
The most popular game on Roblox right now is Adopt Me! With over 29.4 billion visits and 24.7 million favorites. The role-playing game allows users to adopt and raise pets and animals, decorate their virtual home and interact with their friends.
Other popular games on Roblox include Brookhaven RP with 21.4 billion visits and 14.6 million favorites; Hell’s Tower with 18.7 billion visits and 10.1 million favorites; and Blox Fruits with 7.1 billion visits and 4.3 million favorites.
Source: Roblox
Is Roblox a social network?
Yes, Roblox is a social gaming network within a metadatabase that allows users to connect with strangers in the global community and people they know in real life.
According to the company, Roblox users send around 2.5 billion chat messages per day. The app allows users to send friend requests, exchange messages and trade with other users within the game.
Last year, Roblox rolled out Spatial Voice Chat, which allows users to talk to other players close to them in games. Verified users 13 years of age or older can activate the voice chat functionality.
In addition to communicating with others, users can also leverage the power of voting within the platform. Games can be liked, downvoted, followed or favorited to help show other users their quality and popularity.
how to make a roblox game
Do you want to design your own video game and potentially become famous on Roblox? To do this, you must first download Roblox Studio to your computer.
Next, you need to learn the basics of Roblox’s scripting language. The app uses a coding language called Lua that is relatively easy to learn, making it a great way for young coders to understand the basics of video game development.
Roblox Studio offers a variety of templates that make it easy for you to start building your online game. Explore templates, add your own components and learn all about how video games are made.
How do brands use Roblox?
If you’re a savvy marketer looking for ways to reach a younger demographic, you might want to consider developing your own game on Roblox.
Branded games on the platform have the potential to go viral and earn brands big bucks. Take it from Gucci, who made fun of it when a virtual version of one of their bags sold for over $4,000 on the app.
Brands such as Clarks, Spotify, Chipotle, NARS, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Vans have created virtual experiences on Roblox, and it seems that the investment has paid off. Gucci’s Gucci Town received nearly 33 million visits, while Chipotle’s Burrito Builder had more than 17 million visits.
Check out Spotify Island for inspiration from branded Roblox games. The streaming service takes users on a virtual scavenger hunt where they can meet their favorite artists, play with audio and collect specials.
Nikeland is another notable branded experience where nearly 20 million users go for sporting missions and collect Nike gear for their avatars.
Source: Roblox
Is Roblox safe for kids?
If you’re a parent, you may be wondering if Roblox is a safe space for your child. As with any social media platform, the app comes with the risk of scams and bullying. In fact, critics have accused Roblox of failing to adequately protect children on the app from harassment and abuse.
Roblox claims to automatically filter inappropriate content from chat, but parents should be mindful and teach their kids about online safety before allowing them to sign up for a Roblox account.
As a parent, you can restrict in-game chat, in-app purchases, and access to certain games. You can also set up a monthly spending allowance and turn on notifications that let you know when your child spends money in the app.
Log into your Roblox account and go to settings to see a list of parental controls. In the Parental controls section, you will see an option to add Parental PIN. When the Parental PIN is enabled, users cannot make changes to the settings without entering the PIN.
Roblox: TL; DR
Short on time? Here’s the gist: Roblox is a platform that hosts over 40 million user-created experiences, allowing users to build their own experience from scratch. Within these experiences, users can play games, socialize with others, and earn and spend a virtual currency called Robux.
Save time managing your social media presence with Moyens I/O. From a single dashboard, you can publish and schedule posts, find relevant conversions, engage the audience, measure results, and more. Try it for free today.