In a story that reads like a Silicon Valley fairytale, teenage developers are making millions by selling their Roblox games, while many parents still think their kids are just “playing.” One notable example is a 19-year-old who created Blue Lock: Rivals, an anime-inspired soccer game developed in just three months, as reported by Bloomberg.
The Rise of a Sensational Game
With the support of a small co-developer team, the game became a phenomenon, attracting over 1 million concurrent players and generating $5 million monthly for Roblox Corp. Within months, it was sold for over $3 million to Do Big Studios, which now owns several of Roblox’s top titles.
Roblox’s Creator Economy Takes Off
Originally a platform for hobbyist game makers, Roblox has transformed into a robust creator-driven economy with over 100 million daily active users. As of December, the company’s policy changes allowing official ownership transfers have led to a surge of lucrative acquisitions.
According to gaming analytics firm Naavik, seven of the 15 highest-earning games on Roblox as of June were purchased from their original developers. David Taylor, a senior consultant at Naavik, noted, “There has been a real shift in Roblox’s ecosystem.”
Record Earnings for Developers
The earnings potential is substantial; Roblox’s top 10 developers earned approximately $36 million each in the past year, with projections indicating the platform will pay out over $1 billion to creators in 2025.
More Players Enter the Roblox Gold Rush
Do Big Studios isn’t alone in seizing opportunities in the Roblox space. Voldex Entertainment, supported by Raine Group and Shamrock Capital, recently acquired Brookhaven RP, formerly Roblox’s top game. Voldex’s CEO, Alex Singer, 24, withheld the sale price but confirmed it surpassed the $100 million reportedly paid by Embracer Group for Welcome to Bloxburg in 2022.
Voldex has also acquired Driving Empire and Ultimate Football, later partnering with the NFL to rebrand as NFL Universe Football. These strategic acquisitions enable them to expand their game audiences and enhance content quality with professional development teams.
The Secretive World of Roblox Developers
Many Roblox creators are young and often prefer to remain anonymous. Most transactions occur on Discord, where studios scout and buy popular games.
Connor Richards, a lawyer at Odin Law & Media, reported seeing minors earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from these deals. Another tech attorney, Adam Starr, mentioned that he facilitated around 20 Roblox deals in the last year, highlighting the growing interest in this lucrative market.
