Written by Zuhair Kachwala
(Reuters) – Roblox Inc said on Friday it will offer paid video games on its platform and allow developers to sell physical goods through the games they create.
The video game company said at its developer conference that it will add the ability to price certain games, or what it calls experiences, in real currency for desktop computers. Roblox will support a higher revenue share for creators of up to 70%, but it will vary depending on the price of the game.
The company said the paid trials will launch on PC later this year, with plans to expand to all other devices in the future.
The move represents a slight departure from Roblox’s long-standing, successful business model for free-to-play games, focusing on purchases of in-game currency “Robux,” which is used to buy items like cosmetics and collectibles within the company’s digital worlds.
“By introducing our new revenue shares for paid access experiences, we are giving existing creators another way to make money on Roblox,” said Enrico D’Angelo, VP of Economics at Roblox.
Unlike traditional video game companies, Roblox relies heavily on user-generated content to drive engagement, rewarding creators who make popular games that get millions of hits on the platform. The company said it has paid out more than $800 million to its creator community in the past 12 months.
Roblox has partnered with Shopify (NYSE:) to allow individual creators to sell physical merchandise directly from their games early next year.
The company has also partnered with brands like Walmart (NYSE:) and Elf Beauty to launch stores within its platform where players can directly purchase real-world products.
Roblox’s efforts to expand monetization avenues could help it navigate a tough time for the gaming industry as an uncertain macroeconomic environment weighs on discretionary budgets and players stick to proven titles.
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