- RBLX
+12.73%
Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX) used its annual developer conference to lay out a multi-pronged push to expand its player base, ease game creation and address safety concerns, according to analyst notes from Jefferies and Wedbush.
The company unveiled “Roblox Everywhere,” a strategy that will let games be published in app stores and played in-browser, alongside “Roblox Offline,” which allows players to continue sessions without connectivity and syncs progress once reconnected.
Analysts said both moves are aimed at pulling in older players who are less likely to download the Roblox app, a demographic the company has been targeting with a 42% increase in its payout rate for in-game spending from age-verified users 18 and older in the US.
Roblox also expanded its “Build” tool, which lets developers create games from text prompts, into public alpha in Singapore and Serbia after debuting in New Zealand. The company said 71% of games made using Build came from users who had never used Roblox Studio before, pointing to a broader pool of potential developers.
A recent change to Roblox’s discovery algorithm, which now favors games with strong long-term retention over those built for short-term monetization, was among the most discussed topics at the conference. Jefferies noted many developers reported declining earnings as a result and said the shift could weigh on bookings trends as engagement moves toward more retentive but lower-monetizing experiences.
Wedbush said Roblox’s priorities center on retaining and attracting developers, improving discovery and engagement, and eventually converting that engagement into revenue, calling the last goal the least resolved of the three. The firm maintained a Neutral rating while raising its price target, citing the need for more clarity on monetization timelines before turning more constructive.
