With Roblox anticipating a potentially significant public market debut in the near future, investors assessing the company’s $29.5 billion valuation are particularly focused on its dedicated and youthful user base – however, it is the platform’s 7 million active creators and developers that are likely generating the most enthusiasm. 

Roblox has operated an accelerator program since 2015, designed to support the success of the next generation of game developers on its platform. The program has evolved over time, expanding from a single annual session to now encompass three, each accommodating approximately 40 developers. This translates to over 100 developers annually receiving direct support from Roblox, including mentorship, educational resources, and funding possibilities to launch their games. 

As the company’s initiatives in this area became more structured, Roblox brought on Christian Hunter, a former Accelerator participant and a Roblox enthusiast since the age of 10 who began developing games at 13, in 2018 to manage the program full-time. Hunter’s personal experience within the program provided valuable insight into areas for improvement from a developer’s viewpoint. 

The company’s plans for running the program were disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The original intention of hosting developers for three months at Roblox’s San Mateo office was no longer feasible, necessitating a complete overhaul to facilitate remote participation. 

It was discovered that developers, accustomed to creating and experiencing games within virtual environments, readily adapted to the new online format. 

“Prior to COVID, in-person interaction was the norm, making it simpler to connect with others. Developers could easily approach members of our product or engineering teams when encountering challenges,” explains Rebecca Crose, Roblox Senior Product Manager. “However, the pandemic compelled us to adapt and explore alternative approaches.” 

Although structured differently, the remote program offered several advantages. Developers could connect with current and past participants through the program’s Discord server, posing questions and sharing insights. They also had access to the Roblox company Slack channel for direct communication with the team, and an increased number of playtests were scheduled to gather feedback from Roblox employees. 

To foster camaraderie when in-person meetings were impossible, developers organized game nights, playing each other’s creations and popular Roblox games, building relationships within the virtual world rather than through traditional meetings and classes. 

The core content of the Accelerator program remained largely consistent throughout the remote experience, featuring weekly check-ins, presentations on topics such as game design and production, and regular feedback sessions with Roblox engineers. 

However, the shift to a remote format naturally broadened the program’s accessibility. Removing the requirement to travel to San Mateo and reside there for three months opened the program to a more global and diverse pool of applicants. This also led to a significant increase in applications. 

The 2020 program received a record number of applications – five times the usual amount. 

Consequently, the class included participants from five different countries: The Philippines, South Korea, Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. 

The developers at IndieBox Studios viewed the program as an opportunity to further develop their game development endeavors. The group of friends, located across the U.K. and Kentucky, dedicated their time during the accelerator to expanding their photorealistic game, Tank Warfare. 

“We have actually never met in person; we’ve been friends for about nine years now,” Michael Southern shared with TechCrunch. “We initially connected on Roblox.” 

IndieBox exemplifies many of Roblox’s early developer teams – younger gamers who have spent over a decade mastering the intricacies of the evolving Roblox gaming platform. 

“We all started using Roblox back in 2008,” explains Frank Garrison of IndieBox. “But we only began developing on the platform in 2019. For us, choosing Roblox was a natural decision, as it was a platform we already knew well.” 

The demographics of the accelerator program have been changing as the developer community becomes more diverse. 

“Initially, the program primarily attracted young men. However, as the program has evolved, we’ve seen a growing number of interesting and diverse teams,” notes Program Manager Christian Hunter. 

The 2020 program saw the highest number of female participants to date, with 12 women in a class of 50, and one team comprised entirely of women. 

The age range of participants, typically between 18 and 22, has also expanded. 

“We’ve observed an increase in older participants,” Hunter says. “With the COVID-19 pandemic, we even had our first 50-year-old participant. We hadn’t previously had anyone over the age of 24. And in 2020, we had 12 individuals over the age of 30,” he adds. 

Two of the teams were also composed of a parent and child. 

Shannon Clemens discovered the Roblox platform through her son Nathan, and subsequently learned to code, bringing her husband Jeff into the fold to establish a studio called Simple Games. Nathan’s two sisters and a friend, Adrian Holgate, also contribute to the studio on a part-time basis. 

“Seeing my son’s involvement with Roblox and the platform, I was intrigued to learn how to create our own games,” Shannon Clemens told TechCrunch. 

Their game, Gods of Glory, has garnered over 13.5 million visits from Roblox players since its launch in September. 

“Our family is generally inclined towards creative pursuits and enjoying games. So, we decided to apply to the program and see if we would be accepted, which we were, and it has been a fantastic experience,” Jeff Clemens tells us. 

In addition to the adjustments made possible by a remote environment, Roblox highlights other benefits enabled by remote learning. Specifically, developers were not required to adhere to a strict early wake-up schedule. 

“With the program being remote, developers were able to work during their preferred hours,” says Crose. “As developers, we often work later and stay up at night. Requiring them to start at 9 AM sharp was challenging, as they were often fatigued. We found that allowing them to work on their own schedules reduced burnout and increased productivity,” she explains. 

Although the COVID-19 crisis may eventually subside with widespread vaccination, the lessons learned from the Accelerator program and the advantages of remote learning will endure. Developers participating in the program anticipate continued growth on gaming platforms like Roblox. 

“The pandemic has been beneficial for many game studios,” developer Gustav Linde tells TechCrunch. “It’s certainly a strange time, but the timing was favorable for us.” 

The Gang Stockholm, a Swedish game development studio co-founded by Linde, has been creating experiences – primarily branded ones for clients – exclusively on the Roblox platform. The team of 12 utilized the accelerator to refine development timelines and explore unique aspects of the platform, as well as concentrate on their upcoming title, Bloxymon, which is slated for release this year. 

“Compared to Steam, the App Store, and Google Play, those markets are incredibly crowded, while Roblox presents a very exciting opportunity for developers right now,” Linde stated. “Roblox is also gaining significant attention, and many major brands are interested in entering the platform.” 

Roblox states that future Accelerator programs will incorporate a remote component inspired by the COVID experience. The company intends to continue making its program globally accessible, currently limited to English-speaking participants, but plans to expand to include non-English speakers in future sessions. 

The fall 2020 Accelerator class concluded in December 2020, and the next spring class will commence in February 2021. Roblox is currently recruiting for its summer 2021 class, which will again accommodate approximately 40 participants. Roblox will continue to prioritize diversifying the creator group.