Latest news with #Robux
Business Insider
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Roblox has kids yearning for the farm with 'Grow a Garden.' I can see what it's addicting.
The hottest trend this spring for young people is … gardening. Growing carrots and strawberries, pruning weeds. I'm sorry to inform parents anxious about screentime: This doesn't mean your kids are digging in the dirt outside in the fresh air. They're probably on Roblox, playing "Grow a Garden," which, as I typed this Thursday, had more than 2.2 million people playing — four times as many as the next most popular game. (A Roblox spokesman told me the game had around 9 million concurrent players at one point over a weekend in late May — a Roblox record.) I tried the game myself, and I can see how — if you're willing to spend real money on seeds and other garden accoutrement — you can get ahead. Bloomberg reported there's already a robust secondary market for some of the things you can buy to help grow your garden. Items like seed and livestock have popped up on Discord, some niche sites, and even on eBay, to the tune of millions of dollars of turnover a week, the report said. (Selling items on third-party sites is against Roblox's rules, but it still happens.) How did 'Grow a Garden' sprout? "Grow a Garden's" origin story is much like many games on Roblox: A random user — in this case, reportedly a 16-year-old — created the game. The teen has remained anonymous, and I couldn't reach him. Roblox's user base is 40% under the age of 13, CEO David Baszucki has said recently. Users can create their own games — and by using " Robux," the platform's own virtual currency that players can buy with real money, players and game-builders can make money. (It's roughly one real cent per Robux, though they can be had cheaper with package deals and other promotions.) According to an interview in a gaming newsletter with well-regarded Roblox developer Janzen "Jandel" Madsen, "Grow a Garden" was initially created by the teen who built it in a few days. Then Madsen acquired part of the game to build it out with a team of developers. It got even bigger when Do Big Studios, a Florida-based company, also partnered in the game. The exact workout of who owns what isn't clear. Madsen and Do Big Studios didn't respond to my requests for comment. I played 'Grow a Garden' In "Grow a Garden," which is free to play, you start by planting some simple seeds (carrot, strawberry), which quickly grow into plants that you can sell. With that money, which comes in the form of the game's virtual currency, the Sheckle, you earn more to buy even more seeds, eggs, animals, and so on. Curious, I tried it. You start with just enough Sheckles to buy a few carrot seeds, which you can plant in your garden. Compared to my real-world failures in vegetable gardening, the carrots grew satisfyingly quickly, which I then harvested and took to sell at a farm stand, using my Sheckles to buy more seeds for strawberries and more carrots. I strolled around the world beyond my own garden to look at the gardens of other players, who were milling about, buying seeds and selling crops. Some players had really elaborate setups, which must've taken days or weeks of play to build up. After not too long, I had about 400 Sheckles. The leaderboard showed I was playing with someone who had 968 million Sheckles. I walked over to see her garden, which was full of lush plants and blocky animals walking around. Her profile showed she had created the account in early May — quite a feat (or a lot of real-world money). It's possible to "steal" another player's crops — but for that and other things, you have to use real Robux. In general, the gameplay is similar to other games — over time, you do a thing to trade in points for more things, which takes time and patience. And if you're willing to spend real money, you can get ahead much faster (this is not unlike the real world). So what makes 'Grow a Garden' so compelling? Justin Watkins, who runs the popular Roblox gaming YouTube channel ThinkNoodles, told me the game's creators obviously knew what they were doing. "The developers have really optimized everything about the game to maximize its spread in the Roblox algorithm, and also have a deep understanding of what players value in Roblox," he said. "There's been many games that use different hooks for players, but this game has incorporated almost all of them into a single game," including live events that he said are considered "must-attend" to get "rich" in the virtual world of "Grow a Garden" and "flex on others with cool mutations" in your virtual patch. How did 'Grow a Garden' get so big? "Grow A Garden" is undeniably popular. Roblox spokesman Eric Porterfield said it was one of the games that most quickly racked up 1 billion visits in Roblox's history. Still, some adults in video game forums on Reddit, X, and YouTube have criticized the game as being for "dopamine-addled children," saying it doesn't take a lot of brain power to play. (To be fair, there were plenty of adults who also said they found the game soothing and fun.) Others said that Do Big Studios' involvement led to a bigger focus on monetizing the game — in-app purchases to get ahead and the like — which they said had put a damper on the game's community. (Again, I couldn't get Do Big to respond to my questions, so I don't know what they have to say about this criticism.) "Grow A Garden" is still new, having launched in March 2025 — and the kind of momentum and popularity it has doesn't suggest it will fizzle out anytime soon. After playing a few minutes a day for a few days — without spending any of my own money on Robux or Sheckles — I had grown my garden to more than 180,000 Sheckles with tulips, watermelons, tomatoes, and a rare bamboo plant.
Globe and Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Roblox's Latest Partnership With Google Could Be Game-Changing
Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) has been a controversial investment for many investors. On one end, it has pioneered the unique business model that combines user-produced games, social networking, and a digital economy, demonstrating an early version of what the metaverse could look like. Yet, investors have reservations about Roblox's dependence on selling Robux (its digital currency) for revenue. So, its recent partnership announcement could be a major step toward addressing investors' concerns. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Roblox partners with Google to scale immersive advertising At the recent IAB Playfronts 2025 conference on advertising, Roblox unveiled a significant step forward in its advertising strategy; rewarded video ads will soon be available for programmatic and direct purchase through Alphabet 's (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google ad platforms. This partnership gives Roblox instant access to a broad network of brands and agencies, making it far easier to scale immersive ads across the platform. Rewarded video ads let users voluntarily watch up to 30 seconds of full-screen video in exchange for in-game rewards, like power-ups or currency, offered by the game's creators. Early tests were promising, with average completion rates exceeding 80% and some experiences over 90%, suggesting that users see real value in the exchange. By integrating with Google Ad Manager, Roblox can meet advertisers in places where they already buy ads, which helps in removing friction and expanding reach. This rollout also unlocks a new revenue stream for Roblox and gives creators another way to monetize their content while enhancing user engagement. As for Google, this partnership helps it expand its immersive ads offerings, having now added video formats in both Google Ad Manager and AdMob. In short, it's a win-win-win for the parties involved. Why the partnership could be game-changing The partnership with Google could be transformative for several reasons. By integrating with Google's ad infrastructure, Roblox becomes accessible to millions of advertisers who are already using Google Ads. This approach helps Roblox quickly scale its advertiser base with very little investment instead of building its advertiser base. If this partnership is successful, it could lead to even deeper collaboration in the future, transforming Roblox from a niche gaming platform into a mainstream digital ad platform, much like YouTube did years ago. Equally important is that by rolling out rewarded video ads, Roblox is accelerating its efforts to grow its advertising revenue. This will make its revenue more recurring and sustainable than just relying on taking a fee on the transactions made on its platform. Doing that can also boost investors' confidence, making them more likely to invest in the company long-term. Moreover, this new advertising initiative should be highly beneficial to content creators. For instance, the rewarded video ads let users gain in-game rewards, which could improve the overall user engagement, especially for users who usually don't spend money on a premium gaming experience. Besides, developers can generate additional income from ads inserted in their games. By making developers more successful over time, Roblox ensures that the best developers remain on its platform, sustaining the long-term development of high-quality content. In other words, this partnership could help turbocharge Roblox's growth machine, allowing it to iterate on its business model as it rides the metaverse trend. Investors should keep an eye on these areas While the latest partnership with Google could be game-changing in the long run, it is not a sure thing yet. Roblox must ensure that the ads do not hurt users' experience, especially its younger core audience. The key here is to make sure that the ads add value to gamers' experiences -- or at least do not reduce them. Similarly, Roblox must balance advertising (and the nature of the advertising content) with regulatory and safety issues. Failure to do that could impact the relationship with parents and regulators. In other words, the tech company must balance making extra money and user experience. Equally important to monitor is advertisers' return on investment (ROI) over time. If advertisers can't generate a sufficient return, they are unlikely to double down on Roblox. In short, Roblox must execute well in the coming quarters to achieve the desired outcome from this partnership. Where to invest $1,000 right now When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is 975%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor. *Stock Advisor returns as of May 12, 2025
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Roblox wants to become the new shopping mall for Gen Z
Roblox is known as a Gen Z destination for gaming and hanging out. Could it soon also be the place young people go to shop? That's Roblox's stretch goal, at least. Roblox on Thursday said it was expanding its commerce program, allowing more creators and brands to sell physical items — think hoodies, lipsticks, plushies, and concert tickets — without leaving the platform. The commerce push forms part of a broader companywide ambition for Roblox to make up 10% of the $180 billion global gaming market. To do so, it's diversified its revenue streams, generating income from subscriptions, the sale of virtual goods bought using its virtual currency Robux, and through advertising. "Everywhere there's digital goods being bought, we will look at ways in which there is an opportunity to actually buy physical goods," Louqman Parampath, VP of product for ads and commerce at Roblox, told Business Insider. Starting in the US, creators can integrate items from their Shopify catalogs into the virtual experiences on Roblox for users ages 13 and over (and 18-plus in Texas) to buy. The company said more commerce partners and locations are on the way — it previously partnered with Walmart on a trial to sell physical items, for example. Parampath told BI that over time, he envisions Roblox becoming more of a marketplace-style offering, and famous stores like the Nike store might appear across several popular Roblox experiences. "Our plan is to have much deeper product-catalog integrations, which means the variety and diversity of products that will be available across our experiences, and perhaps even a marketplace, will continue to grow," Parampath said. Roblox has been outlining its real-world commerce plans since at least 2023, and began testing last year. The company said the creator studio Twin Atlas generated "six-figure commerce revenue" in a few weeks after it began selling T-shirts and hoodies in Roblox games like "Creatures of Sonaria" and "Dragon Adventures." Fenty Beauty and Warner Bros. were also early testers of the commerce program. Twin Atlas said around 90% of its merch sales now come via Roblox versus its own website. Elsewhere, pop star The Weeknd is launching a ticket bundle within Roblox for his coming feature film "Hurry Up Tomorrow," which will be released in movie theaters later this week. James Poulter, head of AI and innovation at the marketing agency House 337, said Roblox will need to ensure the commercial expansion of its real-world shopping efforts doesn't disrupt gameplay and provide adequate controls to prevent its young users from overspending. "At worst, it risks becoming an Amazon-on-steroids scenario where children are immersed in a commercial environment that parents may not be comfortable with," Poulter said. Roblox said goods sold must adhere to its newly published commerce standards and other applicable policies, such as its community and advertising standards. Roblox sees commerce as a flywheel for its ad business Roblox is also bringing virtual goods to the real world. Through its Approved Merchandiser Program, brands can add a Roblox badge to their packaging and merchandise that contains a code which can be transferred for digital items users' Roblox avatars can wear and use. A Roblox spokesperson said that the company doesn't take a cut from sales of physical items bought through the Shopify integration but will earn a commission from any paired avatar item or developer product sold. Those fees can vary, determined by the total price and price ratio of both the physical and virtual item, exclusivity, and category of the item, the spokesperson said. Parampath said Roblox is also hoping these efforts can help prove the effectiveness of its advertising to marketers. "If you run a campaign for any particular product and that particular product is also purchased on our platform by a subset of our users, you can effectively close the loop," he said. Chris Camacho, CEO of the ad agency Cheil UK, said commerce on Roblox will be of particular interest to fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands looking to reach younger audiences. Roblox said it had around 97.8 million daily active users as of its first quarter, 62% of whom were over 13. "For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, seeing an avatar in a hoodie, a lipstick or a pair of trainers and being able to buy the real thing on the spot just makes sense," Camacho said. "This is commerce on their terms: instant, contextual, and embedded into the experiences they already love."
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘WTF Woolies?': Aussies confused after receiving unexpected email
Thousands of Australians have been left confused after receiving an unexpected email from Woolworths – prompting the supermarket to respond. The retail giant is currently running a promotion which sees Everyday Rewards customers automatically entered into a competition to win 100 million Robux by purchasing 3 participating products at Woolworths and Woolworths Metro stores or on the MILKRUN app. But herein lies the problem. Most Aussies have 'no idea' what Robux is. Robux is actually currency within an online game platform called Roblox that has exploded in popularity in the last few years. Its content is mostly user-generated, allowing users to create and play a wide variety of games that are often free to access. There are also social hangouts and free-form user creation experiences where you can text, voice chat and create with other people in real time. While the platform is used by a wide range of age groups, recent statistics show that 56 per cent of Roblox users are under 16. Just 25 per cent of the platform's 380 million monthly active users are aged between 17-24 and just 19 per cent are 25 and older. Experts have said part of the platform's appeal to kids is that it is 'a world parents do not easily understand' as there are constantly new games emerging. But Roblox has also attracted criticism for exposing children to harmful content after it was revealed the platform had a 'pedophile problem' in a jaw-dropping report by Bloomberg. Hindenburg Research later conducted a through analysis of Roblox and described it as an 'X-rated pedophile hellscape' that exposed children to 'grooming, pornography, violent content and extremely abusive speech'. When Woolworths first announced its partnership with the platform it was widely scrutinised, with parents and critics claiming it was 'inappropriate' and a 'huge red flag for child safety'. Despite the backlash at the end of last year, the promotion kicked off again on April 23, with over 800,000 Australians winning a share of 100 million Robux. Robux has no real-world cash value, but it does hold value within the Roblox ecosystem and can be used to 'buy cool stuff for your avatar, like hats, shirts and accessories,' Woolworths states. But considering most users are not buying groceries, the majority of winners have been left scratching their heads over the unusual prize. 'WTF Woolworths!?! What is this rubbish you are sending out now? What is Robux?' one wrote on Facebook. 'I'm not telling my 9yo and 11yo about this, because Woolworths are counting on them, and thousands of other kids, to nag their parents into shopping at the supermarket,' another said. As one asked: 'How do I give this shitty prize back?' 'Woolworths this is so random,' said another, while one wrote: 'I've got no idea what Robux or Roblox is.' Many defended the giveaway, including Woolies, who suggested those who 'don't know what to do with their Robux dollars can gift the voucher to friends and family'. 'There is one more week left for customers to win Robux in the Win with Everyday Rewards promotion,' the spokesperson added. In November, a video the supermarket shared on TikTok explaining the promotion was flooded with mixed reviews. 'No way, a Woolies x Roblox promo. Man, that's cool,' said one. 'This is a worthless prize,' claimed another. As one declared: 'I'M RUNNING TO WOOLWORTHS NOW. I DON'T CARE IF IM BARE FOOT.'
South Wales Argus
28-04-2025
- South Wales Argus
Mum's warning after nine-year-old spends £1,000 on Roblox
Emma Bell didn't realise that her PayPal account was linked to her iPad and had no idea that her daughter could spend the money so easily. In the space of three months her daughter Bronwen made 25 transactions on her Roblox account - billing up more than £1,000 in her mum's bank account. The mum-of-three from Quakers Yard, south Wales has warned parents to be "vigilant" as she has been unable to retrieve her money back. Roblox allows users to create their own games but also offers in-app purchases to upgrade the user's avatar with things like clothes or accessories and offers some pay-to-play games. Emma, 52, who works as a social worker said: "I was really distraught. I did tell her off but she has got no concept of how much money that is. "These Robux [Roblox coins] kids don't see it as money. It is coins and a gaming app. They don't connect that that is money you have got to pay for. "On Roblox when you go in to buy those coins the way the options are set up the £199 is the first option that comes up. For her she had no concept and understanding that she was clicking the most expensive option. "I was upset at myself. At that point I held out hope but as time went on I just felt sick to the stomach and angry that such a big corporation can't understand the financial difficulty this put me in." Bronwen at home playing on her tablet (Image: Emma Bell / SWNS) Emma said her daughter Bronwen, who is neurodivergent, plays on her tablet when she comes home from school. She explained how she tries to monitor the games Bronwen downloads and they had a rule where she would ask her mum for permission before pressing anything. But what the mum didn't realise was that she had PayPal in daughter's payment method on the iPad. Her daughter had managed to spend more than £1,000 on the site but the worst time was when she did five transactions in one day. Emma said: "PayPal takes at least a week to send it through my bank account so there had been some delays in those bills going through my bank before I realised the huge amount of fees. "One of the things that upset me the most was in a whole day there were five transactions - one of £199, second of £99 and three for £49,99." Bronwen Bell and mum Emma (Image: Emma Bell / SWNS) For weeks Emma, was in back and forth contact with Apple, Roblox, PayPal and her bank trying to secure a refund but so far she has only been able to get £78 from Apple. Emma said: "She had run up a huge bill. I phoned PayPal and asked them to put a block on any charges being put through. "Then I spoke to Apple and they were helpful. I went through my Apple account, saw all the transactions and there was a simple click to request the refund." She clicked on the option stating "purchase without consent" which she said gave her some "reassurance". But shortly after she claims she had an automated decline for all of the transactions and had to appeal. She was advised by Apple to speak with Roblox and her bank - but she hasn't been given any help since. Emma then escalated it with Apple and the outcome was that she was paid £78. She said: "I'd like to see these organisations having some kind of security in place where they would recognise that it as unusual activity and maybe put a block. "I had bills to pay out and then there was no money on my account to pay them. I was really distressed about it." Emma explained how Apple have told her how to put blocks on Roblox to stop her daughter from buying coins. She said: "I've put a password on the iPad and I am a lot more conscious. I am still not 100 per cent confident about what I am doing because I think technology moves so fast. "I went on the iPad the other day and I am checking it more regularly. "My downfall was I used to have an Apple phone and it was connected to the iPad and whenever they wanted to download a free app it would pop up on my phone and I'd have to click accept. "But then at Christmas time I changed my phone to a completely different make and it just didn't answer my thought process that I needed to go and put parental locks - I feel foolish about that but it is a hard lesson to learn. "I'm not particularly great with IT, I am not bad but I am a busy working mum got a professional job I'm trying to do the best I can." In response Roblox said in a statement: "Roblox works with multiple payment providers to provide a safe and secure purchasing experience, and we have a robust policy for processing refund requests where there may have been unauthorized payments from a person's account. "Whenever possible, we work with parents directly to provide a refund for unauthorized purchases. "As noted in our help centre, we advise parents and caregivers that if they notice charges on their PayPal account that they did not authorize, to please contact Roblox Customer Support before disputing any charges. "This is because once a charge has been disputed, a refund cannot be issued due to the payment provider's dispute process. "Similarly, where payments have been made through Apple/iTunes, as the payment provider they require any refunds to go through their support services and these charges cannot be refunded by Roblox. "Finally, it is very important to note that parents also have access to a suite of Parental Controls on Roblox, including spending limits so that parents can determine how much their children can spend, and spend notifications to increase visibility over their children's spending on Roblox." Apple, PayPal have also been approached for a comment.
