Roblox: The Money-Making Machine Targeting Kids

Roblox is one of the most widely used digital platforms among children and teenagers. Although many people see it as a simple block-based game or a social space, its economic system is much broader.

Below is a clear and direct explanation of how its business model works.

A platform with millions of users

Roblox was created in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel. Over the years, it has grown to surpass 300 million monthly active users.

In the United States, a large portion of children between 6 and 16 years old have an account on the platform. This makes it one of the digital environments with the strongest youth presence.

Roblox Studio: anyone can create

One of Roblox’s core pillars is Roblox Studio, the tool that allows users to create their own experiences within the system.

The company does not use the term “game,” but rather “experience.” Since 2013, with the Developer Exchange (DevEx) program, creators have been able to convert the virtual currency (Robux) into real money.

This opened the door for thousands of young users to begin developing content with the intention of generating income.

Microtransactions as the foundation of the business

The economic model is mainly based on:

• Purchasing items within experiences
• Paid upgrades or advantages
• Cosmetic items

In many cases, paying makes progress within the experience easier. This system is commonly known as “pay-to-win.”

Unlike other platforms, Roblox relies almost entirely on these microtransactions to generate revenue.

Virtual casinos and sensitive content

Within the platform, there are experiences that simulate roulette wheels, raffles, or chance-based systems.

Although Roblox sets age limits for certain content, the fact that everything is labeled as an “experience” has sparked debate about how some regulations are applied in different countries.

Virtual item marketplace

Roblox also has a system of limited items that can be resold.

There are:

• Community-created items
• Official or event-based items

Some items reach high prices within the internal marketplace. The platform displays sales statistics, which has created dynamics similar to a digital market.

How much does a creator receive?

In the video game industry, platforms like Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo usually retain around 30% of each sale.

On Roblox, the distribution is different. After commissions and conversions, the percentage received by the creator is lower. In addition, there is a minimum amount of Robux required to withdraw money.

There is also a difference between the price of buying Robux and the value received when converting them into cash.

An ecosystem with multiple layers

Roblox combines in a single platform:

• Social network
• Development tool
• Digital marketplace
• Microtransaction system
• Virtual economy

For many users, it is a creative and entertainment space. For others, it is an environment with strong monetization aimed primarily at minors.

What is clear is that Roblox does not operate like a traditional game, but rather as a platform with its own economic system that has grown on a large scale.