After becoming one of the hottest topics of 2023, Roblox is now a strong piece of the puzzle when considering the future of the metaverse. However, understanding the reason behind why Roblox is paving the way for social connectivity and creativity will grant you insight into exactly what makes the platform so successful and why they’ve ended the year with a 30-billion-dollar market cap after recently going public.

In this next piece, we’ll take a look at how and why Roblox has become popular, how Gen Z is at the forefront of early metaverse adoption, and what the future holds for not only Roblox but other immersive and experiential virtual world games. 

Key differences between the metaverse and Roblox

Before we even begin to dissect the reasons why Roblox is paving the way in digital creativity and connectivity it’s important to understand what exactly the product is. Tech moguls and developers around the globe are pushing for mass adoption of their metaverse initiative, and Roblox in its essence is viewed as an early version of what’s to come. 

But, what is the metaverse? According to experts, the metaverse is going to be the second version of the internet. It will consist primarily of virtual worlds where users will be able to socialize, interact, and explore. Users will also have the ability to create an avatar or digital twin that you can customize to your heart’s content. 

However, Roblox on the other hand is a global interactive game where users can create experiences or games, interact, and play using their personalized avatar. Ultimately, it’s a digital world where users can just about do anything. This core feature is what makes Roblox an early model of what the future metaverse might end up becoming, and for this reason, the game is often referred to as the Roblox Metaverse. 

Why is Roblox so popular?

Since its rise to popularity in 2019, Roblox has doubled its number of monthly active users. The platform now boasts over 40 million gamers daily, who spend an undetermined amount of time creating and socializing across various experiences on the platform. 

Gaming has long been coined as the pioneer industry that will help launch and pave the way for mass adoption of the metaverse. In fact, in a recent study, 59% of experts stated that the gaming industry will monopolize virtual reality investments over the coming years. This trend becomes apparent when companies such as Microsoft are seen acquiring gaming companies, most recently Activision Blizzard, which owns games such as Call of Duty and Candy Crush. 

Another important feature of Roblox is that it’s free, unlike other popular gaming platforms. However, this should come as no surprise considering that over 85% of industry revenue originates from free games. This is one of the core reasons why Roblox has become so popular. 

And if you’re wondering what the platform’s user demographic is, then look no further than Gen Z. 

Why Roblox has become Generation Z’s metaverse

It’s no wonder that Roblox became so popular with Gen Z, they are after all the first generation of digital natives and a cohort who prefer to socialize online rather than in person. A mere 14% of Roblox’s active players are over the age of 25. This is a small percentage when compared to the whopping 67% of users who are either 16 years old or younger. 

This metric goes to show how the younger generations are spearheading virtual worlds, thus paving the way for the future metaverse. This is an interesting point to consider, especially if you’re a business owner or marketer looking to attract or reach this specific demographic. 

Now that we’ve covered the ins and outs of Roblox and the metaverse it’s time to take a look at the reasons why Roblox is paving the way for social connectivity and creativity. 

We’ll also briefly discuss the potential and future influence of the metaverse and key reasons why you shouldn’t sleep on this emerging trend if you’re a brand owner or marketer.

1. It’s optimized for mobile:

Most of the popular RPGs with an immersive experience require the use of headphones and desktop computers. However, this isn’t the case with Roblox. The platform’s creators and developers made it fully accessible and optimized for all smartphones so that users can log on and play the game at any time, no matter where they find themselves. 

According to Roblox, 72% of sessions happen from smartphone devices. This metric makes sense considering that 64% of Generation Z state that they are always connected in some way or another, with a whopping 57% confessing that they feel unconfident if they don’t have their smartphone at hand. 

Making games and virtual worlds accessible and optimized for smartphones is an important feature that developers and game creators alike need to keep in mind, especially if Gen Z’s existing patterns of internet use continue. 

2. It fosters creativity:

The reason why Roblox is pioneering digital creativity is that the platform itself doesn’t just let the user play, it also allows them to create both their own virtual worlds and games – known as experiences. 

Users can create experiences for just about anything, from combat games to virtual hangout rooms. 

The platform also offers in-app purchases and monetization features for creators. In 2013, they rolled out their native virtual currency which allowed users to “play-to-earn” and builders could also earn a percentage of revenue for their experiences. Currently, Roblox pays community developers who build games on the platform or items that can be used in said games an average of 240 million dollars per year.

Gen Z holds creativity in high regard, with 83% of respondents claiming that their generation is “creative”, with another 80% stating that they aspire to work with innovative forms of technology. With this in mind, it’s no wonder the metaverse appeals to them.

3. It’s completely customizable:

The ability for users to completely customize not only their personal avatar but the virtual world they’re hanging out in is what ultimately distinguishes a metaverse from conventional online games. 

Avatar items of clothing and accessories are an emerging opportunity for big-name brands. Nike already jumped on the trend and made NFTs of some of their best-selling sneakers and more businesses are following in their footsteps. 

Take Gucci for example, in the past, the popular fashion brand launched a collection on Roblox with users being able to purchase items in Robux. In fact, one of their virtual bags was purchased on Roblox for 4000$, which is more than the item was worth in real life.  

Conclusion

Roblox serves as a sneak peek of what the future of the metaverse will look like, and even though the industry has a long way to go before augmented reality and virtual reality are integrated fully with digital worlds it’s clear to see that it’s on its way. 

Tech giants such as Epic Games, Microsoft, and Meta are all working towards developing the metaverse, so it’s only a matter of time before we begin to see progress and virtual worlds become a staple on everyone’s smartphone.