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 is a huge online platform where you can play and create games. It was made by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004 and launched in 2006. As of February 2025, over 85 million people play Roblox every day. The company says that half of all American kids under 16 play on Roblox each month.
On Roblox, you can find millions of games, often called "experiences," made by other players. These games are built using a special programming language called Lua and Roblox Studio. Roblox is free to play, but you can buy a virtual currency called Robux for in-game purchases. Game creators can also make items that cost Robux. Roblox has a big virtual economy where these items and Robux are traded. Creators can even turn their earned Robux into real money. The platform also hosts virtual concerts and special events.
Roblox started small but grew very fast in the late 2010s. Its growth became even faster during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2020, over 5,000 Roblox games had been played more than a million times. More than 20 games had been played over a billion times. While many people like Roblox, it has faced some criticism. This includes how it handles content and some of its money-making practices. Some countries, like China, Turkey, and Jordan, have limited or blocked Roblox.
What is Roblox?
Roblox is an online game platform where players create and play games. These games are called "experiences." Anyone can make a game using Roblox Studio, then share it with others. The games on Roblox come in many different styles, from role-playing games to escape games. Roblox is designed to be fun for families and is known as a massively multiplayer online game (MMO).
Robux and Premium
Roblox is free to play, but it has a virtual currency called "Robux." You can buy Robux with real money. Robux lets you buy virtual items for your character, called an "avatar." You can also use Robux to play certain games that cost money. Most items on Roblox are made by players. Through a program called "Developer Exchange," creators can turn their Robux into real money. Roblox also offers "Roblox Premium," a monthly membership. Premium members get extra features and a monthly amount of Robux.
How the Virtual Economy Works
Roblox has a large virtual economy based on Robux. Players can buy, sell, and create virtual items. Roblox Premium members get Robux every month, discounts on items, and can trade special items.
Many items on Roblox are made by players. Over time, more and more users have been able to create avatar items like accessories and animations. Some items are "limited," meaning only a few exist. Their price changes based on how many are available and how many people want them. These limited items can be very valuable. Once all of an item is sold, players can resell them for a higher price. Premium members can trade these limited items with each other.
Game developers can sell content within their games. Through the "Developer Exchange" program, creators can turn their earned Robux into real money. They need at least 30,000 Robux to do this. In 2020, Roblox reported that about 345,000 game developers earned money this way. Some people even design avatar items as a full-time job. The top creators have earned over $100,000 a year from selling items.
Some people try to trick others on Roblox. They might send messages about websites that promise free Robux. There are also people who try to get into Roblox accounts to steal valuable items. They might use fake websites to get account information. Roblox offers a "rollback" feature to help victims get their items back, but this can only be used once per account.
Roblox Studio: Make Your Own Games
Roblox Studio is the special software used to create games on Roblox. Games are mostly made using Luau, which is a version of the Lua programming language. Luau became open-source in November 2021, meaning anyone can use and change it. Roblox Studio also has pre-made templates that users can change to make their own games.
In 2020, Roblox said that over 2 million developers used Roblox Studio. They created more than 20 million games each year. Many of these developers were young people. Even if creators don't earn money, Roblox Studio helps them learn about game design and coding.
Popular Games on Roblox
Roblox has many popular games because players create them. As of July 2020, over 20 games had been played more than one billion times. At least 5,000 games had been played over a million times. The game Grow a Garden had over 16 million players at the same time in June 2025. Roblox games have different genres and age ratings. These ratings are for everyone, or players over 9, 13, or 17. Games for players over 17 need ID verification.
Many companies use Roblox to create games that promote their products. These are called "advergames."
How Roblox Started and Grew
Early Days: 2004–2009
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Roblox was created in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel. They used to work on educational software. Baszucki had an idea for a virtual world where people could build things and connect with others. They started Roblox, which was first called Dynablocks. They decided that players would create all the content, and Roblox would provide the tools.
Baszucki and Cassel worked alone at first. They even made their own games before the creation tools were finished. Early versions of Roblox were very simple. They advertised Roblox, and a few dozen players joined to test it. In mid-2006, they hired their first employees to help with other features.
Roblox officially launched on September 1, 2006. Roblox Studio also became available that year. Early games included paintball, haunted houses, and model trains. In 2008, Roblox stopped making its own games. It became fully focused on games made by players. In 2007, Roblox launched "Builders Club," a membership that gave users more features and daily Robux. In the early days, Roblox had two currencies: Robux and Tickets (also called "Tix").
Growing Up: 2010–2015
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Roblox kept growing in the 2010s. By August 2011, it had about 6.8 million players each month. It became the second most popular kids' entertainment site. Its profits also increased a lot. In 2013, Erik Cassel, one of the co-founders, passed away.
Roblox started making versions for mobile devices in 2012. A full version for iOS (Apple devices) came out on December 11, 2012. This allowed players to play games. The Android version was released on July 16, 2014. Roblox also came to Xbox One on November 20, 2015. This version first had only 15 games chosen by Roblox staff. Later, users could publish their own games on Xbox.
From 2013 to 2014, Roblox added many new features to its creation tools. This included the Developer Exchange program. Other updates added character animations and tools for developers to see how many people played their games. In May 2015, Roblox updated its physics engine to make games look smoother and more realistic.
Big Growth and the Pandemic: 2016–2020
Roblox became very popular in the late 2010s. By December 2016, it had about 30 million monthly players. This number grew to 90 million by April 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic made Roblox grow even faster. Many kids used Roblox to connect with friends during lockdowns. Between March and April 2020, Roblox had over 120 million monthly players. The company said this included over half of all kids under 16 in the United States. The number of daily players in 2020 increased by 85% compared to 2019.
By this time, over 20 games had been played more than one billion times. The game Adopt Me! was very popular. It had been played over 10 billion times by July 2020. It also set a record with over 1.6 million players online at once.
Roblox added a "Party Place" system for players to meet up and hold events. This included virtual concerts. Roblox also started working towards a "metaverse," which means many connected virtual worlds. They announced features to give creators more freedom and make games more "immersive." They also partnered with a music label, Monstercat. This allowed users to use their music in games.
Roblox also worked to make the platform available on more devices. In April 2016, Roblox became available for Oculus Rift (a virtual reality headset). In June 2016, a special app for Windows 10 was released. Roblox also added automatic translation for in-game chat in 2020. In 2019, Roblox partnered with Tencent to bring Roblox to China.
During this time, some features were removed. In 2016, Roblox removed "Tickets," making Robux the only currency. In October 2017, Roblox removed the "guest" option. This meant players needed an account to play games. In 2019, Roblox Premium replaced the old Builders Club membership.
Recent Years: 2021–Present
Roblox continued to grow in 2021 and beyond. In March 2021, the Roblox Corporation became a public company. It was valued at $45 billion. In 2023, Roblox released versions for Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro virtual reality headsets. Ports for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were released on October 10, 2023. Since 2021, games on Roblox are officially called "experiences."
Roblox released in China in July 2021. This version was called LuoBu and had many restrictions. LuoBu did not become very popular and was shut down in January 2022. Roblox said they would redevelop it.
Roblox continues to build its metaverse vision. In 2021, Baszucki talked about eight features Roblox would aim for. He mentioned the Ready Player One books as inspiration. Recent features include voice chat for users over 13 who have verified their age. Facial animations based on a player's real face were also added in 2023. In March 2024, Roblox Studio added two generative artificial intelligence tools. These tools help create avatars and textures faster.
In 2022, Roblox announced age ratings for games. This helps make the platform appealing to older players. The highest rating was initially 13+. In June 2023, a 17+ rating was added for games with more intense themes. In November 2024, Roblox updated its parental controls. New safety features were added for users under 13. Parents can now control screen time and private messages.
Community and Fun
As of February 2025, over 85.3 million people play Roblox every day. The company says that half of all American children under 16 play on Roblox. Besides games, Roblox has social spaces where players can hang out. Players have used the platform to support causes like the Black Lives Matter movement. They have also used it for virtual events that were paused by lockdowns. Roblox was also known for its "oof" sound effect when a character died. This sound became a popular internet meme. The sound was changed in 2022 due to a disagreement.
Merchandise
In January 2017, a toy company called Jazwares started making Roblox toy figures. These toys came with codes to get virtual items in the game. In April 2021, Hasbro released Roblox-themed Nerf blasters and a Roblox version of Monopoly.
Special Events
Roblox often hosts events both online and in real life. They used to have conventions called BloxCon for players. They also host virtual Easter egg hunts and Halloween events. The "Bloxy Awards" were an annual awards show and fundraiser. In 2020, the virtual Bloxy Awards had 600,000 viewers. In 2022, the "Bloxy Awards" became the "Roblox Innovation Awards." Roblox also hosts the Roblox Developers Conference. This is a special event in San Francisco for top creators to learn about new updates.
Roblox sometimes partners with movies to promote them. They have hosted events for films like Wonder Woman 1984 and Aquaman. Roblox has also hosted virtual concerts with artists like Lil Nas X, Zara Larsson, and Twenty One Pilots. In October 2021, Roblox partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill. They gave away $1 million worth of burritos as part of a Halloween promotion. In March 2025, "The Hunt: Mega Edition" started. Players competed in 25 different Roblox games for a $1 million prize.
See also
In Spanish: Roblox para niños
