Roblox Introduces AI-Powered Game Creation for Mobile Users

What happened

Roblox has unveiled a new feature called ‘Build’ that enables users to design games from their mobile devices using AI. This tool allows anyone to turn simple text prompts into a basic game, making game creation accessible to non-programmers.

For instance, a user can input, 'Let’s make a cozy adventure game set in a dense forest,' and the AI will generate an initial version of the game, which can be further modified and shared. The feature leverages a broad set of AI models, including both open-source and proprietary Roblox models, to handle gameplay mechanics, environment, characters, visual style, sound, and more.

Why it matters

The introduction of ‘Build’ is significant as it aims to democratize game development, potentially opening the platform to a broader audience. However, this move has sparked concerns among developers and players, as reducing the barriers to game creation via text prompts could lead to an influx of low-quality and repetitive games.

This may also increase competition on the platform, as creators are required to compete not only with other developers but also with AI-generated content that can be produced far more quickly.

These concerns are reflected in this year’s Game Developer Conference State of the Game Industry survey, which found that 52% of game industry professionals believe generative AI is having a negative impact on the industry.

What to watch

Roblox plans to rank AI-generated games based on player retention to ensure quality. If a game is not played, it won’t be featured prominently. The company aims to continue accelerating creation across all experience levels while maintaining the quality of games on the homepage. Beyond the ‘Build’ feature, Roblox is also working on developing AI agents that will assist creators in playtesting and providing analytics.

These features are anticipated to roll out in the upcoming months.