Roblox is expanding beyond virtual currency and will now allow developers to sell games for real dollars.

• Roblox is trying to attract more developers by offering real money in its latest attempt to broaden its business.
• The company unveiled a new model at its annual developer conference in San Jose, California on Friday.
• In order to be part of the broader gaming industry, we must expand to all types of gaming, according to Manuel Bronstein, Roblox's chief product officer.

The virtual world's billion-dollar gaming platform for kids is becoming a reality.

On Friday, the company announced that some game developers on the platform will have the option to charge users real money instead of using Roblox's digital currency, Robux, for payments. This change applies only to Paid Access games, which are those that require payment to play.

The new model, unveiled at the company's annual developer conference in San Jose, California, takes inspiration from the traditional video game industry, enabling developers to monetize their games by selling them directly to users and adjusting prices based on market demand. This eliminates the need for game creators to deal with an intermediary virtual currency.

Manuel Bronstein, chief product officer of Roblox, stated that the goal is to enhance the platform's appeal to existing developers who desire more options to create and monetize their games.

The percentage of revenue to the creator will be higher for games with a higher cost, and payouts will be on a sliding scale.

The creator of a $50 game will receive 70% of the earnings, while those who pay $30 and $10 will receive 60% and 50%, respectively. Roblox users will be able to pay with their local currencies from their computers later this year, and the company plans to expand payments to other devices in the future.

The new pricing plan aims to motivate developers and small gaming studios to create more elaborate games on Roblox, in hopes of earning larger payouts, according to Bronstein.

In order to be part of the larger gaming industry, we must expand to all types of gaming, according to Bronstein.

The majority of Roblox's income comes from the sale of Robux, which is primarily used to purchase virtual items. Roblox retains 30% of these sales, with the remaining amount going to the developer.

In August, Roblox reported that its second-quarter sales increased by 31% year-over-year to $893.5 million, while its net loss decreased to $207.2 million from $282.8 million in the previous year.

Roblox has previously experimented with incorporating real-world money, such as with the launch of its revamped digital marketplace, the Creator Store, where users can purchase certain features from developers using actual currency instead of Robux. However, the Avatar Marketplace for buying digital goods like virtual hats still relies on the use of Robux.

Roblox is diversifying its business by introducing tools to help developers price their digital goods and experimenting with regional pricing options. Additionally, the company plans to increase the menu of options for users to create and sell digital goods through online ads.

In the future, developers will be able to sell physical merchandise to U.S. users aged 13 and above through a partnership with . The company announced on Friday that it will begin testing the in-game shopping feature with creators, brands, and other online retailers in the fourth quarter.

Shopify said it plans for a "larger launch" early next year.

In 2024, while the Nasdaq has risen by 11%, Roblox shares have fallen by approximately 7%, with a price of $42.56 on Friday afternoon, down nearly 3%.

Since its initial trading day in 2021, Roblox's stock has fallen nearly 40%, despite the app's popularity among children during the pandemic.

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