Despite professing to be a “platform for all ages,” Roblox has typically been most popular among children and pre-teens. In a change from its family-friendly image, the firm now says it will allow producers to create material expressly for consumers aged 17 and up.
This isn’t a minor proportion of Roblox’s user base; the platform stated in a press statement on Tuesday that by 2022, 38% of its daily active users would be above the age of 17.
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According to Roblox, producers would be able to “feature more mature themes and storylines in TV shows and stand-up comedy.” This may feature violence, blood, vulgar comedy, love themes, and alcohol, according to the firm.
Players may also encounter “unplayable” gambling content, however, it is unclear what this entails. Robox has been asked to clarify.
To gain access to this content, you must first verify your age by uploading a photo of your driver’s license or ID, as well as a selfie, to prove that you are who you say you are.
This technique will provide “greater confidence in people’s age and identity,” according to Roblox, and further age verification methods may be implemented in the future.
Eligible creators can start making these experiences starting today. These experiences will start rolling out to “eligible” users in the coming weeks. Roblox says that its goal is to provide a safe and engaging experience for people ages 17 or older.
The company isn’t being specific on what qualifies as an “eligible” creator or user. We’ve reached out to Roblox for comment and will update this story if we’ve heard back.
Roblox has always targeted younger audiences in its marketing. For example, early this year, the company collaborated with Razer to develop Roblox Edition gaming gear for children.
However, with slightly more than a third of that user base being over the age of 17, it’s understandable that the corporation would want to give more content aimed toward adults.
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Roblox has always targeted younger audiences in its marketing. For example, early this year, the company collaborated with Razer to develop Roblox Edition gaming gear for children.
However, with slightly more than a third of that user base being over the age of 17, it’s understandable that the corporation would want to give more content aimed toward adults.