Roblox
Overview
Roblox is an online game platform and game creation/distribution system operated by Roblox Corporation (로블록스 코퍼레이션), based in the United States. It was co-founded in 2006 by David Baszucki (데이비드 바수츠키) and Erik Cassel (에릭 카셀), and is cited as a leading example of a user-generated content (UGC) ecosystem in which millions of user-made "Experiences" can be run in one place. It is closer to a platform that hosts games rather than a single game, and is commonly described as the archetype of the "metaverse."
Main Content
Platform structure
Roblox consists of a client app, a website, and the creation tool Roblox Studio. Users choose and connect to the Experiences they want from the app or website, and in Studio they write game logic using Luau, a scripting language developed in-house by Roblox. A major advantage is that the platform handles 3D modeling, the physics engine, server hosting, matching, and payments on the user's behalf, so individuals do not need to prepare server infrastructure. Avatars are customized by combining parts, and avatar items such as clothing and accessories can also be created by users and sold in the Marketplace.
Robux and the revenue structure
The in-platform currency is Robux (로벅스). Users buy Robux with cash and spend it on items or in-game monetization features, and creators receive a share of the Robux generated by their Experiences after the platform fee is deducted. Creators who meet certain conditions can convert Robux into actual cash through the DevEx (Developer Exchange) program. Thanks to this structure, there have been cases of teenage creators earning real income, and Roblox is evaluated as a platform that turned game creation into a career path.
Representative Experiences and culture
A wide variety of Experiences exist on the platform, regardless of genre. Notable examples include the pet-raising simulation Adopt Me!, the life role-playing game Brookhaven RP, Blox Fruits, which borrows the One Piece universe, the horror games Piggy and Doors, and the farming simulation Grow a Garden, which enjoyed explosive popularity in 2025. The social culture of making friends and forming parties within games, and the trading culture surrounding limited-edition items and events, are also important pillars of the platform. Each year, the developer conference RDC and the Roblox Innovation Awards are held to spotlight outstanding creators.
Safety and regulatory controversy
Because the user base skews young, child safety has been a long-standing challenge. Chat filtering and parental-control features are provided, but issues such as approaches to minors, inappropriate content, in-game spending inducements, and fraudulent item trading have been raised repeatedly. In 2024, Türkiye blocked access on grounds of child protection, and in the United States attorneys general from several states filed lawsuits alleging that the company had failed to fulfill its duty to protect minors. In response, the company has been successively introducing tightening measures such as face-scan-based age estimation, age-based account tiers, and chat restrictions for users under 13.
Recent Trends
2024–2025 was a period in which Roblox's user base grew along with social pressure. Daily active users (DAU) surpassed 100 million in 2025, quarterly revenue set all-time records, and the stock price swung widely depending on earnings and regulatory news. Technologically, the trend of combining generative AI with creation tools is clear. As features that create 3D objects and scenes from text commands and an AI assistant that writes and modifies code in natural language are integrated into Studio, the barrier to entry for creation is being lowered. At the same time, in 2025, age verification and parental consent procedures were greatly strengthened, and in some countries restrictions on teenage use or access blocks have continued. Brand collaborations, virtual events such as concerts, and the introduction of an advertising platform are also actively expanding the platform's reach, and Roblox is broadening its character beyond games into media and commerce infrastructure based on virtual spaces.
Related Topics
- [[Metaverse]]
- [[Minecraft]]
- [[User-generated content]]
- [[Game development]]
- [[Virtual currency]]
- [[Child and youth protection]]