For anyone who has watched Ready Player One, Roblox feels like the closest thing to a 0.01 version of that multi-layered, user generated video game platform. For those that haven’t watched the film, Roblox is a massively-multiplayer online platform, which hosts millions of worlds created by partnered developers, who create items for the platform.
It was founded by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004, with the official launch of the game happening in September 2006. Both developers already had experience building 2D and 3D simulation physics, and wanted to work on simulation software that wasn’t tailored to the enterprise.
At launch, Roblox was quite basic and Baszucki and Cassel were responsible for increasing the amount developers could do on the platform. However, as more depth was added, it enabled developers to create their own game modes and worlds.
In 2013, Roblox made a critical change to its developer program by allowing creators to exchange its virtual currency, Robux, for real-world currencies. That developer payout has increased every year since launch, with Roblox paying $250 million to developers in 2020.
Roblox has expanded onto all mobile platforms and has launched more restrictive versions of its game on Xbox One. It has also launched a virtual reality edition for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Even though Roblox has been available for over a decade, it has only started entering the mainstream in the last few years. It has seen its registered users increase from 35 to 150 million in three years, with 50 million of those added during the coronavirus pandemic.
That has saw its valuation increase dramatically, from $2.5 billion in 2018 to almost $38 billion when it debuted on the New York stock exchange in 2021. That has dropped off by a bit alongside the broader tech selloff in 2022.
What comes next for Roblox is more expansion of the game’s base. In an op-ed for Wired, Baszucki said the “metaverse is coming”, where millions will meet virtually for more than just gaming, similar to the world in Ready Player One. It’s clear Baszucki sees Roblox as the stepping stone to this new virtual experience.
We have collected data and statistics on Roblox. Read on below to find out more.
Roblox key statistics
- Roblox generated a revenue of $2.2 billion in 2022, up 16% year-over-year
- Over 56 million people access Roblox daily
- Roblox paid out $525 million to creators in 2021
- Roblox most popular world was Adopt Me! with 32.2 billion visits in 2022
Roblox overview
| Title | Title 2 |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 1 September 2006 |
| HQ | San Mateo, California |
| People | David Baszucki (co-founder, CEO), Erik Cassel (co-founder) |
| Business type | Public |
| Industry | Video gaming |
Roblox revenue
Roblox made 2.2 billion in 2022, up 16% year-over-year. In 2021, it increased its revenues by 107%.
Roblox quarterly revenue 2020 to 2023 ($mm)
Roblox annual revenue 2017 to 2022 ($mm)
| Year | Revenue ($mm) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 45 |
| 2018 | 335 |
| 2019 | 435 |
| 2020 | 924 |
| 2021 | 1919 |
| 2022 | 2224 |
Source: Company data
Roblox users
Roblox had 56 million daily active users by the end of 2022, with 23% year-on-year growth.
Roblox quarterly DAUs 2020 to 2023 (mm)
Roblox annual DAUs 2018 to 2022 (mm)
| Year | DAUs (mm) |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 10.9 |
| 2019 | 17.1 |
| 2020 | 33.4 |
| 2021 | 43.2 |
| 2022 | 56 |
Source: Company data
Roblox creator payout
Roblox paid out over $500 million to creators in 2021, who made purchasable items for in-game use.
Roblox annual creator payout 2017 to 2022 ($mm)
| Year | Creator payout ($mm) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 30 |
| 2018 | 70 |
| 2019 | 100 |
| 2020 | 329 |
| 2021 | 525 |
Source: Company data
Roblox valuation
Roblox valuation skyrocketed to $40 billion at IPO, a 900% increase on its valuation in 2020.
Roblox valuation 2017 to 2022 ($bn)
| Year | Valuation ($bn) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 38 |
| 2022 | 20 |
Source: Company data, The Wall Street Journal
Roblox most visited places
Roblox most popular place is Adopt Me!, which has been the most popular for more than two years.
Roblox most visited places 2022 (bn)
| Place | Number of visits (bn) |
|---|---|
| Adopt Me! | 32.2 |
| Brookhaven | 27.5 |
| Tower of Hell | 20.1 |
| MeepCity | 15 |
| Piggy | 13.8 |
| Murder Mystery 2 | 11.4 |
| Royale High | 9.9 |
| Welcome to Bloxburg | 8.6 |
| Jailbreak | 7.1 |
| Blox Fruits | 6.4 |
Note: Values as of March 2023. Source: Roblox forum
Roblox FAQ
How many times has Roblox been downloaded?
As of June 2020, Roblox has been downloaded 383 million times across Google Play and iOS (GamesIndustry)
How many worlds have been created on Roblox?
There are approximately 40 million games on Roblox, although that number fluctuates every few months
What demographic is Roblox most popular?
Roblox highest demographic is children under 13 and it was the most popular entertainment app for that age group (TechCrunch)
How much more valuable is Roblox post-IPO?
From its 2020 valuation to two days after IPO, Roblox increased its valuation by 850 percent
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