Roblox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roblox |
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Logo since 2022
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| Developer(s) | Roblox Corporation |
| Publisher(s) | Roblox Corporation |
| Designer(s) | David Baszucki Erik Cassel |
| Platform(s) |
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| Release date(s) |
September 1, 2006
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| Genre(s) | Game creation system, massively multiplayer online game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Roblox (ROH-bloks) is a popular online game platform. It is also a game creation system. This means you can play games made by others, or even make your own games!
Roblox Corporation created Roblox. It was started by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004. The platform officially launched in 2006. Lots of people play Roblox every day. As of February 2025, over 85 million people play daily. The company says that half of all American kids under 16 play Roblox each month.
Roblox has millions of games, which they call "experiences." Users create all these games. They use a special programming language called Lua and a tool called Roblox Studio. Playing Roblox is free, but you can buy things in games using a virtual money called Robux. Game creators can make items that cost Robux. There's a big virtual economy where people buy and sell these items. Creators can even turn their Robux into real money! Roblox has also hosted virtual concerts and special events.
Roblox started small, but it grew very fast. This growth became even faster during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2020, thousands of games on Roblox had been played over a million times. Many had even been played over a billion times! People generally like Roblox, but some have criticized how it handles content. Some countries, like China and Turkey, have even blocked Roblox.
Contents
What is Roblox?
Roblox is an online game platform. It's also a game creation system. This means it's built around games and content made by its users. These are called "experiences." Anyone can create games using Roblox Studio. Then, other players can play them.
The games on Roblox come in many different types. You can find role-playing games or games where you try to escape from prison. Roblox is made to be fun for families. It's often called a massively multiplayer online game (MMO). This means many players can play together at the same time.
Roblox is free to play. However, it has a virtual currency called Robux. You can buy Robux with real money. You can use Robux to buy virtual items for your character, called an "avatar." You can also use Robux to play some games that cost money. Most items for avatars on Roblox are made by other users.
Creators can earn Robux from their games and items. They can then use the "Developer Exchange" program to turn their Robux into real money. Roblox also has a monthly service called "Roblox Premium." Subscribers get extra features and some Robux each month.
The Roblox Economy
Roblox has a big virtual economy. It's all about Robux, the virtual money. Users can buy, sell, and create virtual items with Robux. Roblox Premium is a monthly subscription. It gives users Robux every month. The amount depends on the plan they choose. Premium members also get discounts on items and can trade items.
Many items on Roblox are made by users. At first, only Roblox staff could create avatar items. But over time, users gained more power to create. Since 2019, some users can publish their own avatar accessories, animations, and more. Some items on Roblox are "limited." This means only a few exist. Their price changes based on how many are available and how much people want them. These items are like non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Limited items can cost millions of Robux. After they sell out, players can resell them for a higher price. Players with Roblox Premium can trade official limited items with each other.
Game developers can create content that players buy. Through the "Developer Exchange" program, users can turn their Robux into real money. They need at least 30,000 Robux to do this. In 2020, Roblox said that about 345,000 game developers earned money this way. People who create avatar items can also make money. Some even design items as a full-time job. The top creators have earned over $100,000 a year from selling items.
Making Games with Roblox Studio
Roblox Studio is the tool for making games on Roblox. It's the platform's game engine and development software. Games made on Roblox mostly use Luau. This is a special version of the Lua programming language. Since 2021, Luau has been available for anyone to use. Some parts of Roblox Studio were made using C++. Roblox Studio also has ready-made templates. Users can change these to help them create games.
In 2020, Roblox reported that over 2 million developers used Roblox Studio. They created more than 20 million games each year. Most of these developers were kids or teenagers. Even if developers don't make money, Roblox helps them learn about game design and coding.
Popular Games on Roblox
Roblox has many popular games because users create them. By July 2020, at least 20 games had been played over a billion times. Also, at least 5,000 games had been played over a million times. Many companies use Roblox to create games that promote their products. These are called advergames.
Roblox History and Growth
The first version of Roblox was made in 2004. It was called DynaBlocks. The co-founders, David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, created it. Baszucki started testing it that year. In 2005, the company changed its name to Roblox. It officially launched on September 1, 2006.
In March 2007, Roblox added a "safe chat" feature. This helped keep younger users safe. It limited what users under 13 could say. In August, Roblox improved its servers. It also launched a paid membership called "Builders Club." This was later renamed Roblox Premium in 2019.
In December 2011, Roblox held its first Hack Week. This is an event where Roblox developers work on new ideas. On December 11, 2012, Roblox became available on iOS devices like iPhones. On July 16, 2014, it came out for Android phones. On October 1, 2013, Roblox started its Developer Exchange program. This allowed creators to turn their Robux into real money.
On May 31, 2015, a feature called 'Smooth Terrain' was added. This made the game world look more realistic. On November 20, Roblox launched on Xbox One. It started with 15 games chosen by the Roblox team.
In April 2016, Roblox launched Roblox VR for Oculus Rift. At that time, over ten million games could be played in 3D. Around the same time, the safe chat feature changed. It used a list of approved words for younger users. In June, a version for Windows 10 was released. This was a special app for Windows, even though Roblox had been on computers since 2004.
In November 2018, players could no longer play as a "guest" without an account. In July 2020, Roblox created "Party Place." This was an online place for friends to hang out. It was made using new technology and helped people connect during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roblox was allowed to launch in China on December 3, 2020. In October 2021, Roblox had its longest downtime. Services were unavailable for three days.
In December 2021, Roblox closed its Chinese servers. They said they wanted to create "another version" of the app for Chinese players. In September 2022, Roblox Corporation announced a new age rating system. They wanted to attract older users, aged 17-24. On June 20, 2023, Roblox started allowing games rated for players 17 years and older.
On July 27, 2023, Roblox was released for Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro as a test version. Over one million people downloaded it in five days. In September 2023, Roblox announced it would be available on PlayStation the next month. They also bought a company called Speechly. This company makes AI technology for voice chat safety.
Roblox Community and Events
As of February 2025, over 85 million people play Roblox every day. The company says that half of all American kids under 16 play Roblox each month. Players have used the platform to show support for causes. For example, some users supported the George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter. Some even used Roblox to do things that were stopped by COVID-19 lockdowns, like religious events.
A famous part of Roblox was its "oof" sound effect. This sound played when a character died. It became a popular internet meme. The sound was later changed in 2022 due to a copyright issue.
Special Events on Roblox
Roblox sometimes holds real-life and virtual events. They used to have a convention called BloxCon for players. Roblox has also held virtual Easter egg hunts. They host an annual event called the "Roblox Innovation Awards." This is an awards ceremony that also raises money. The 2020 event, held online, had 600,000 viewers.
Roblox Corporation also hosts the Roblox Developers Conference. This is a special event in San Francisco for top creators. They learn about upcoming changes to the platform. Similar events have been held in cities like London.
Roblox sometimes partners with movies to promote them. They have done events for Wonder Woman 1984 and Aquaman. Roblox has also hosted virtual concerts with famous artists. These include Lil Nas X, Zara Larsson, and Twenty One Pilots. In October 2021, Roblox worked with Chipotle Mexican Grill. They gave away $1 million worth of burritos to players. In March 2025, The Hunt: Mega Edition started. Players competed in 25 different Roblox games for a $1 million prize.
Roblox Toys
In January 2017, a toy company called Jazwares partnered with Roblox. They started making toy figures based on characters and items created by Roblox users. These toy figures have parts that can be swapped, like Lego minifigures. They are about twice the size of Lego figures. The toy sets often include a code. This code can be used to get virtual items in the game. Some sets also come in blind boxes with random figures.
In 2019, Jazwares released a new line of toys called "Roblox Desktop." In April 2021, Roblox partnered with Hasbro. They released Roblox-themed Nerf blasters and a Roblox version of the game Monopoly.
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See also
In Spanish: Roblox para niños
