Roblox, the popular online gaming platform, has announced a significant update that will allow developers to sell their games for real-world currency. Currently, creators can charge users a one-time Robux fee for access to their games, but this new feature will give developers the opportunity to earn money in real cash. Initially, this feature will be available only on PC, with plans to expand to other platforms.
Manuel Bronstein, Chief Product Officer of Roblox, highlighted the aim of the feature at the 2024 Roblox Developers Conference (RDC 2024). He said, “The goal is to increase the appeal of the platform to existing developers.” The pricing will be tiered, with games sold at $9.99, $29.99, and $49.99 offering revenue shares of 50%, 60%, and 70%, respectively, for developers.
Roblox has faced past criticism for not adequately compensating its creators, but this move could address some of those concerns. However, there is still uncertainty regarding how well games with price tags up to $50 will perform on a platform where free-to-play has been the norm.
The company will also allow creators to sell physical merchandise through e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, further expanding the monetization options for developers.
