Roblox Corporation was founded in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel. Baszucki had previously co-founded Knowledge Revolution, which developed Interactive Physics, an educational physics simulation software that allowed students to build and simulate physical systems. The experience of building a platform where users could create and share simulations informed the concept for Roblox.
Baszucki and Cassel began developing Roblox in 2003 and launched the platform in beta in 2004. The Roblox platform officially launched publicly in 2006, initially as a PC-based platform where users could create games using Roblox Studio and share them with other players. The platform's early growth was slow but steady, building a community of young creators and players who were drawn to the ability to build and share their own games.
Roblox expanded to mobile devices in 2012, launching apps for iOS and Android. The mobile expansion dramatically increased the platform's accessibility and accelerated user growth. The platform's popularity grew through the mid-2010s, particularly among children aged 8-14 who were attracted to its user-generated content, social features, and the ability to play games created by other users.
Tragically, co-founder Erik Cassel passed away in February 2013 after a battle with cancer. Baszucki continued leading the company and dedicated the platform's ongoing development to Cassel's memory.
Roblox experienced explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as school closures and social distancing drove children and teenagers to online platforms for entertainment and social connection. Daily active users grew from approximately 17 million in 2019 to approximately 32 million in 2020, and the platform became a cultural phenomenon among younger generations.
The company went public through a direct listing on the NYSE in March 2021, valuing Roblox at approximately $45 billion at the time of listing. The direct listing (rather than a traditional IPO) allowed existing shareholders to sell shares directly to the public without the company raising new capital. The high valuation reflected investor enthusiasm for the metaverse concept and Roblox's dominant position in user-generated gaming.
Following the IPO, Roblox continued to invest in platform capabilities including voice chat (launched in 2021), improved avatar systems, and enhanced graphics. The company also expanded its developer monetization tools and launched the Roblox Partner Program to work with brands on immersive advertising experiences.
In FY2024, Roblox reported strong growth with 85.3 million DAUs and approximately $3.6 billion in revenue, demonstrating continued platform momentum despite the post-pandemic normalization of online entertainment consumption.