Roblox Massive News: Subscription-Based Experiences

In a recent revelation, Roblox, the popular online platform, has announced its plans to equip developers with the ability to offer subscriptions within their experiences.

This development, as per a blog post published on Tuesday, could potentially revolutionize the way developers earn from their experiences.

A New Monetization Avenue

Roblox has always been a platform that encourages developers to monetize their experiences. The existing monetization methods include selling virtual items within an experience or on the Roblox marketplace, offering exclusive access to certain content, and gating experiences behind paid access. However, these methods involve one-time fees.

The introduction of subscriptions, on the other hand, could pave the way for developers to establish a recurring economic relationship with their users.

This could potentially enhance the predictability of their earnings. Other monetization options include subscriptions to private servers, engagement-based payouts, and incorporating Roblox’s Immersive Ads.

A Competitive Edge

The subscription model could also provide Roblox with a competitive advantage over other metaverse platforms. For instance, Epic Games’ new system for Fortnite rewards creators based on factors like the duration of play in their experiences.

However, it doesn’t permit creators to directly sell virtual goods or subscriptions within those experiences.

This could make Roblox a more attractive option for developers seeking greater flexibility in monetization.

A Word of Caution

While the subscription model sounds promising, Roblox has not yet provided a specific timeline for its implementation. Therefore, it might be premature for developers to design experiences around this feature.

It’s also crucial for Roblox to consider safeguards to prevent inadvertent sign-ups for subscriptions, especially considering the large number of young players on the platform.

Real-World Goods: The Future?

In the same blog post, Roblox hinted at the possibility of enabling the purchase of real-world goods within an experience in the future. However, no specific timeline has been provided for this feature either.

Last month, Roblox introduced a feature allowing developers to create experiences exclusively for players aged 17 and above. The company has been in the news recently following reports of some employees expressing concerns over the company’s approach to diversity.