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This Teen Built a Game on Roblox -- Then Sold It for Millions
This Teen Built a Game on Roblox -- Then Sold It for Millions

Yahoo

time14-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

This Teen Built a Game on Roblox -- Then Sold It for Millions

Teen developers are striking gold on Roblox (NYSE:RBLX), and investors are quietly pouring in behind the scenes. A 19-year-old who built Blue Lock: Rivalsan anime-inspired soccer gamesold it for over $3 million just months after launch. At its peak, the title hit more than 1 million concurrent players and was generating roughly $5 million per month for Roblox. The buyer? Do Big Studios, a firm that's been actively snapping up hit titles across the platform, including Grow a Garden, which broke records in June with 21 million simultaneous playerssurpassing Fortnite. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with RBLX. What's fueling this surge in deals is a structural shift in Roblox's ecosystem. A December platform update quietly made it easier for developers to transfer ownership of their gamessomething that used to violate Roblox's terms. That's opened the floodgates. Voldex, another acquisitive player, bought Brookhaven RP in February in a deal CEO Alex Singer described as bigger than Embracer Group's acquisition of Welcome to Bloxburg, which had been reported at around $100 million. Most of these deals are brokered on Discord. Many sellers remain anonymous. But behind the avatars, there's real moneyand increasing interest from capital providers like Raine Group and Shamrock Capital. Roblox's creator economy is now attracting serious financial attention. The platform is on track to pay out over $1 billion to developers this year, with the top ten creators earning $36 million each over the last 12 months. Valuations for games typically range from 112 months of revenue, depending on how stable the player base looks. Voldex has even inked partnerships with the NFL to rebrand games like Ultimate Football, extending their shelf life. Roblox isn't actively participating in these secondary market transactions, but the trajectory is clear: this could be the early innings of a new asset class where digital gamesespecially those born in teenage bedroomscommand multi-million-dollar exits. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Roblox is turning teenagers into young millionaires across the globe: Here's how
Roblox is turning teenagers into young millionaires across the globe: Here's how

Hindustan Times

time12-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Hindustan Times

Roblox is turning teenagers into young millionaires across the globe: Here's how

In a digital twist which sounds more like a Silicon Valley fairytale, teenage developers are raking in millions by selling their Roblox games, while many parents still think their kids are just 'playing'. One such developer, a 19-year-old creator of Blue Lock: Rivals, built the anime-inspired soccer game in just three months, reported Bloomberg. Teenagers are becoming rich by selling their Roblox games(Unsplash) With help from a small co-developer team, the game became a sensation that drew over 1 million concurrent players and generated $5 million monthly for Roblox Corp. Within months, it sold for over $3 million to Do Big Studios, which now owns several of Roblox's top-performing titles. The rise of Roblox's creator economy Roblox, originally a playground for hobbyist game creators, as per Bloomberg, exploded into a creator-driven economy with over 100 million daily active users. The company's shift in policy, allowing for official ownership transfers as of December, has unleashed a wave of big-money acquisitions. The report quoted gaming analytics firm Naavik saying seven of the 15 highest-earning games on Roblox as of June were acquired from their original creators. David Taylor, a senior consultant at Naavik, said there has been a real shift in Roblox's ecosystem. As per the report, Roblox's top 10 developers each earned around $36 million in the past year, and the platform is on track to pay out over $1 billion to creators in 2025. Also Read: Roblox The Hatch 2025 event: Dates, new games and what to expect Other players in the industry Bloomberg's report added that Do Big Studios is not the only company jumping into the Roblox gold rush. Voldex Entertainment, backed by Raine Group and Shamrock Capital, recently bought Brookhaven RP, Roblox's former number one game. Voldex's CEO, Alex Singer, 24, would not reveal the sale price but said it exceeded the $100 million reportedly paid by Embracer Group for Welcome to Bloxburg in 2022. Voldex also scooped up Driving Empire and Ultimate Football, later partnering with the NFL to rebrand the game as NFL Universe Football. The strategic acquisitions allowed companies to grow game audiences and improve content with professional development teams. Anonymous creators and Discord deals Many Roblox developers are quite young and often choose to stay anonymous. Most deals are worked out on Discord, where studios look for and purchase popular games. Connor Richards, a lawyer at Odin Law & Media, told Bloomberg that he has witnessed minors making hundreds of thousands of dollars from these transactions. Another tech attorney, Adam Starr, shares that he has helped facilitate around 20 Roblox deals in the last year, and the interest in this area is growing quickly.

Teens become millionaires overnight thanks to this Roblox game while parents think they're just playing games
Teens become millionaires overnight thanks to this Roblox game while parents think they're just playing games

Time of India

time11-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

Teens become millionaires overnight thanks to this Roblox game while parents think they're just playing games

A 19-year-old guy made a soccer video game called Blue Lock: Rivals on Roblox with help from co-developers. He made the game in just 3 months, inspired by anime and soccer. The game blew up fast and had over 1 million people playing it at the same time after its release in 2023. It started generating $5 million per month — but that money went to Roblox Corp., not just the developer. In March, a company called Do Big Studios bought Blue Lock: Rivals from the teen for more than $3 million, as per the report by Bloomberg. Big money for teen creators Roblox started nearly 20 years ago as a fun site for kids to make and play simple games. Now, it has almost 100 million daily users, and games made by regular kids/teens are being sold for millions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in Davao Del Sur - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo 7 of the top 15 games on Roblox were bought from their original developers, according to Naavik researcher David Taylor. Roblox made it easier to sell games in December when they allowed ownership transfer, which used to be banned. But Roblox itself says it doesn't help or handle these deals in the secondary market, as stated by Bloomberg. ALSO READ: Rebellion within the ranks: China's top military paper challenges Xi Jinping's push for battlefield robots Live Events Other teens also getting rich from game sales Do Big Studios is buying up popular games. In May, they bought a big chunk of Grow a Garden — now the most played game ever on Roblox. Grow a Garden had 21 million players at the same time in June — more than Fortnite, as per the reports. The game was originally made by another anonymous teen, then bought by Splitting Point before Do Big came in. In February, Roblox's top game Brookhaven RP was sold by a mystery dev to a company called Voldex Entertainment, according to the report by Bloomberg. Voldex CEO Alex Singer said the Brookhaven RP deal was even bigger than the $100 million deal for Welcome to Bloxburg. Roblox's top 10 game creators earned $36 million each from March 2023 to March 2024, as per the reports. Roblox might pay over $1 billion to developers in 2025 alone. Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki believes one dev could become a billionaire by 2028 just from Roblox. Deals are happening on discord Game deals mostly happen on Discord, says Connor Richards, a lawyer who's worked on many of them. Some teen devs have made hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling their games, as per the Bloomberg report. Another lawyer, Adam Starr, has handled about 20 Roblox game sales in a year, with more teens asking for help now. Most of these developers prefer staying anonymous, as per reports. ALSO READ: Largest population purge this decade? Iran expels half a million Afghans in rapid crackdown post-Israel war Companies want to improve bought games Voldex's early big buys were Driving Empire and Ultimate Football — both cost them millions. They even partnered with the NFL, renaming one game to NFL Universe Football to attract more players. Voldex keeps the original creators involved sometimes and adds teams of programmers to make the game even better. Roblox games often get popular fast and die fast, so creators sometimes sell their games for just 1-2 months' revenue, as mentioned by Bloomberg report. Others wait longer and sell for 12 months' worth of game income. Game artists and coders sometimes get a small ownership share in exchange for helping build the game. Voldex's CEO summed it up best: "Roblox is very capitalist — the goal is for creators to make real money', as stated by the Bloomberg report. FAQs Q1. How did a teenager become a millionaire from a Roblox game? A 19-year-old made a soccer game on Roblox called Blue Lock: Rivals, and sold it for over $3 million after it went viral. Q2. Can you make real money by creating games on Roblox? Yes, teen developers are earning millions by creating and selling popular Roblox games to big gaming companies.

Do Big Studios: A Creative Force Redefining Roblox Gaming
Do Big Studios: A Creative Force Redefining Roblox Gaming

Int'l Business Times

time03-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Int'l Business Times

Do Big Studios: A Creative Force Redefining Roblox Gaming

As the digital world continues to expand, Do Big Studios remains an innovative force reshaping how games are built, discovered, and scaled. The forward-thinking studio contributes to the advancement of Roblox gaming while championing developers, building chart-topping experiences, and pushing the boundaries on one of the most dynamic platforms in the world. Founded in 2020, Do Big Studios originally entered the scene as a traditional creative team crafting engaging Roblox games. Still, even from the beginning, it was clear this wasn't just another group of developers looking to ride the platform's popularity. The leadership team wasn't satisfied with simply making good content. They wanted to build something industry-defining. The pivot came with a realization. Creating a great game is only one piece of the puzzle. The team saw firsthand how many innovative, fun, and technically sound games went unnoticed due to gaps in execution, whether that be marketing, user retention, or monetization. That gap presented an opportunity. Do Big Studios has evolved instead of just designing its own games. It moved from being makers to being strategic partners for other creators. This evolution led to a business model that now combines full game acquisition, investment in promising titles, and long-term support for independent developers. Do Big Studios' growth can be attributed to its unique and empathetic approach to game acquisition. "We don't operate as a faceless entity that swoops in to take control. We maintain a respect for the developers behind each project," says Stefan Poyol, COO of Do Big Studios. Poyol, himself a creator before becoming an executive, emphasizes only acquiring or partnering on games he personally enjoys. This connection to the work ensures that passion and vision are never lost in the handover. When a title catches his eye, often through organic gameplay discovery or scouting by internal team members, the process begins with direct engagement. In many cases, Poyol reaches out to developers to offer suggestions for improvement. This authentic and supportive gesture reveals the studio's intentions to elevate creators. When Do Big Studios does acquire a game, it offers developers a seamless and rewarding exit strategy. Titles are purchased outright for competitive sums, with optional ongoing revenue-sharing models that let original creators continue to benefit from their success. The studio then takes over development at the discretion of the creator, later putting a focus on elements such as optimization and global marketing, turning raw potential into scalable success. This hybrid model of acquisition, development, and strategic scaling has resulted in some of the most successful games on the Roblox platform. One of the studio's biggest turning points came with the meteoric success of Grow a Garden, an offline progression gardening game that achieved something no other game on Roblox had managed before. On June 21st, Grow a Garden hit 21.3 million concurrent users, surpassing historical records set by behemoths. The game's slow-paced, nurturing design defied the fast-twitch norms of popular online titles and proved that accessible, wholesome gameplay could drive blockbuster performance. Grow a Garden Similarly, Blade Ball, a competitive PvP title, captured the attention of many. With over 5.3 billion visits and still drawing tens of thousands of active players daily, it remains one of the standout milestones in the studio's history. Other high-performing titles include Fisch, a serene and engaging fishing simulator that's brought in over 3 billion visits, and a dusty trip, a compelling adventure-survival experience with 1.7 billion visits. These games, whether developed in-house or acquired and elevated, were all built on strong creative foundations and scaled with strategic precision. It's significant to contextualize Do Big Studios' rise within the larger trend of explosive growth in the Roblox gaming space. With user-generated content now powering much of the platform's success, Roblox has evolved from a sandbox for hobbyists into a vibrant commercial ecosystem. Monthly active users continue to climb, new genres emerge rapidly, and the line between indie developer and industry powerhouse blurs with every update. Within this landscape, Do Big Studios acts as a bridge. It connects great games with the resources they need to flourish and helps ensure that talented developers don't get lost in the shuffle, especially those who work alone or in small teams. From a small creative team to a major player in the gaming space, Do Big Studios has grown by staying true to its roots while constantly evolving. "The goal is to always create opportunities where others see limitations and do so with a sense of purpose that puts creators first," Poyol remarks. "The Roblox platform will continue to expand, and the demand for innovative and engaging experiences will surely grow with it. We look forward to staying at the forefront of this space, offering scale, stability, and a chance to do something big."

Roblox has kids yearning for the farm with 'Grow a Garden.' I can see what it's addicting.
Roblox has kids yearning for the farm with 'Grow a Garden.' I can see what it's addicting.

Business Insider

time06-06-2025

  • 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.

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