Key facts
- Roblox launched "Build," an AI-powered feature for mobile game creation.
- Users can generate games from text prompts without coding experience.
- The feature uses a combination of open-source and proprietary AI models.
- Roblox will rank games based on player retention to ensure quality.
- Public alpha testing begins July 28 for users in New Zealand.
Roblox announced on Thursday the launch of "Build," a new feature integrated into its mobile application that allows users to design and create games using artificial intelligence. This tool enables individuals without prior programming experience to generate initial game versions by simply inputting text prompts. For instance, a prompt like "Let's make a cozy adventure game set in a dense forest" can result in a basic game that users can then customize and share.
The "Build" feature is powered by a diverse set of AI models, including both open-source and proprietary Roblox models, and handles various aspects of game development such as gameplay mechanics, environment design, character creation, visual style, and sound. This development follows similar initiatives by tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Tencent in the AI-powered game generation space.
However, the introduction of such tools has sparked concerns within the gaming community. Critics worry that lowering the barrier to entry for game development could lead to an increase in low-quality and repetitive games, intensifying competition on the platform. A survey from the Game Developer Conference indicated that 52% of game industry professionals perceive generative AI as having a negative impact on the industry.
To mitigate these concerns, Roblox intends to implement a player retention-based ranking system for AI-generated games, similar to its existing game discovery mechanisms. The company stated that games lacking player engagement will not be prominently featured, ensuring that the quality of games on the homepage remains consistent. The goal is to accelerate creation for all experience levels.
The "Build" feature is scheduled to enter public alpha testing on July 28, initially available to age-verified users aged nine and older in New Zealand. Users aged 16 and above will have the capability to publish their creations globally. Both a free basic version and paid options will be offered.
Beyond "Build," Roblox is actively developing AI agents to assist creators with playtesting and analytics, with anticipated rollouts in the coming months. The company's ongoing investment in AI also includes a foundation model for generating 3D game assets and an AI chatbot to support developers. Furthermore, Roblox is working on a new scene-generation model capable of creating entire editable 3D scenes from a single text prompt.