Roblox plan to grow their absurd gaming empire even further by letting devs release games as "standalone apps", potentially via Steam, Epic, and GOG

Roblox is set to empower game creators to release their creations on various platforms as standalone applications, according to the company's latest announcement at the Roblox Developers Conference. Through its Roblox Everywhere initiative, Roblox will enable games to be made available on mobile devices, PCs, and consoles. The company plans to power the technology and services behind these standalone apps.

However, it remains unclear if these standalone apps will be accessible on third-party app stores. According to a Roblox spokesperson, the feature will initially be tested with a limited selection of gaming developers and storefronts, with further details to be shared soon.

By the end of 2026, players will be able to join games directly in their web browsers from the Experience Details page, eliminating the need for app downloads or installations. This feature will first launch on the Chrome browser, with plans to expand to other browsers later. Additionally, creators will soon be able to enable offline solo play, which will enter early access before its full release by mid-2027.

To support game development, Roblox is also rolling out several updates to its engine. These updates include an orthographic camera, animated image containers, direct sprite-sheet imports, and enhanced UI features and gradients. Furthermore, a new AI creation layer will be integrated into Roblox's cloud operating system, designed to handle the intricacies of game development.

The mobile version of Roblox's Build feature, which allows users to create games through an AI-powered interface, will expand to Serbia and Singapore following its initial alpha launch in New Zealand. Earlier this year, Roblox introduced agentic AI tools that enable creators to build games using a single prompt.

In an effort to improve creators' financial management, Roblox has announced the introduction of Roblox Wallet and Roblox Card. These features aim to provide creators with faster, more flexible access to their earnings. Creators will receive daily payments in their local currency, as well as the ability to transfer funds to their personal or external bank accounts.

Roblox Wallet will be rolled out to independent creators aged 18 or above in the US in December, with plans to expand globally in the following year. Additionally, Roblox plans to produce a physical card in 2027, allowing creators to spend their available balance anywhere it is accepted.

Roblox's financial performance has been robust, with the company reporting a 36% increase in revenue, reaching $1.5 billion. Despite higher bookings, the company experienced a shortfall due to reduced per-hour monetisation among younger users in the US and Canada. Consequently, Roblox shares declined by 70%. The company's chief financial officer, Naveen Chopra, attributed the monetisation headwind to changes in the recommendation algorithm, which prioritizes long-term retention over near-term monetisation, resulting in more impressions for highly retentive games at the expense of immediate revenue.

Chopra stated that the company anticipates mitigating this monetisation challenge by refining its algorithms with age-check data for improved recommendations. However, he warned that monetisation weakness is expected to persist.