By In a groundbreaking move, Roblox, the immensely popular children’s gaming platform, has just revealed its plans to launch on Sony’s PlayStation consoles. This exciting development is set to bring the dynamic Roblox universe to an even wider audience, as it gears up for its PlayStation 4 and PS5 debut in October 2023.
Roblox has been making waves in the gaming world with its staggering daily player count, boasting more than 60 million active users. However, this digital playground has not been without its share of controversies, particularly regarding content moderation issues.
But Roblox isn’t just stopping at PlayStation integration. The gaming giant has also unveiled a slew of other exciting announcements. Among them is a new character creation system that promises to enhance players’ ability to personalize their avatars. Additionally, a communication tool called “Roblox Connect” is in the works, allowing for more immersive interactions within the Roblox metaverse. Furthermore, Roblox is set to have a full-fledged release on Meta’s VR platform, Quest, promising even more immersive experiences for virtual reality enthusiasts.
This PlayStation expansion marks a significant milestone for Roblox, solidifying its position as one of the world’s foremost gaming platforms. While the exact extent of its popularity is somewhat elusive, Roblox has made substantial inroads. In 2020, it was reported that two-thirds of all US children aged between nine and twelve were engaging with the platform. Moreover, a Statista survey conducted the same year found that Roblox was overwhelmingly more popular than its closest competitor, Minecraft, with a whopping 67% of children favoring Roblox over the latter.
What sets Roblox apart is its emphasis on creation rather than traditional gameplay. Within the platform, players are not just gamers; they are developers. This innovative approach allows users, often children, to design their own games and even potentially earn in-game currency known as Robux. Roblox has received praise for nurturing creativity and game design skills among young people. However, this freedom and popularity have also drawn scrutiny, especially in the realm of child safety.
The NSPCC and Childline reported a five-fold increase in the number of children contacting their helplines with concerns about Roblox since the onset of the pandemic in 2022.
The announcement of Roblox’s PlayStation debut was made during the company’s annual Developers Conference. Roblox had earlier released an open beta version on Meta Quest, which garnered over one million downloads within its first five days. The full launch on Quest is expected to happen later this month, marking yet another exciting development in the Roblox saga.
Details about the PlayStation launch were somewhat scarce, but Roblox assured players on both the previous and current generation PlayStation consoles that they would have access to the full catalog of Roblox experiences.
In addition to the PlayStation news, Roblox introduced “Connect,” a system enabling players to communicate with others using their real names, body language, and facial expressions. By employing their device’s camera, Roblox will transfer real-world expressions onto in-game characters. While a version of this motion-capture technology was introduced earlier, “Roblox Connect” represents the company’s first attempt to integrate this technology into social interactions within the game.
In the interest of privacy, Roblox has clarified that players aged 13 and above must provide consent to use their cameras, assuring users that video captured from their cameras will never leave their devices.
The specifics of the rollout of “Roblox Connect” in different countries remain unclear, with the company promising more details in the future. This exciting development hints at a future where gaming experiences are not just immersive but also deeply connected to real-world interactions.
