Roblox to Launch Standalone Apps and Chrome Support via RDC 2026

Roblox Everywhere: Standalone Apps and Browser Play

The most significant strategic pivot is the "Roblox Everywhere" initiative. Moving beyond the traditional requirement of launching the main client, creators will soon have the option to distribute their games as standalone applications for mobile, PC, and consoles. This move aims to transform Roblox from just a gaming platform into a foundational infrastructure for game development and distribution.

As a first step toward this goal, Roblox will introduce direct browser play. By the end of 2026, players will be able to launch experiences directly within Google Chrome from the Experience Details Page without installing the client. The company plans to expand support to other browsers and ensure seamless transitions from social media links, search results, or emails directly into gameplay.

Enhanced Gameplay and Social Features

To improve accessibility and engagement, several technical and social updates were announced:

• Offline Play: Within the next year, creators can enable offline solo-play modes alongside online multiplayer. This feature is expected to roll out in early access, with a full release scheduled for mid-2027.
• Social Connectivity: A new friend chat tab will persist across different games, allowing friends to coordinate and move between experiences together.
• Quick Words: To ensure safety for all age groups, creators can register pre-approved, policy-compliant phrases (such as "start your engines") that players can use via voice input or quick selection.
• 2D and Puzzle Support: The engine will receive updates including orthographic cameras, animated image containers, and sprite sheet support to better facilitate 2D and puzzle-style games.

AI-Driven Creation: Build and Scene Generator

Roblox is heavily integrating AI to lower the barrier to entry for new creators. The new "Build" feature, accessible via a dedicated tab in the Roblox app, allows users to create games using text prompts. During its alpha phase in New Zealand, the tool has already generated approximately 9,000 games, with 71% of those creators having never used Roblox Studio before. The alpha is now expanding to Serbia and Singapore.

Additionally, the "Scene Generator" will debut later this year. This tool allows creators to input text prompts and reference images to generate functional layouts, which can then be further refined within Roblox Studio.

Monetization and Financial Ecosystem

The company highlighted the massive economic scale of its ecosystem, noting that creators have earned over $5 billion through the DevEx program since 2013, with approximately $1.7 billion earned in the last 12 months alone. To further incentivize creators, the "Roblox Plus" subscription service—launched in April 2026—provides bonuses to creators who bring subscribers into the platform via their specific games.

New financial tools are also on the horizon. The "Roblox Wallet," powered by Airwallex US, will allow creators to receive earnings in real currency on a business day basis. This service will launch for eligible creators in the US by the end of 2024, with international expansion planned for 2027. The "Roblox Card," which connects to the Wallet for direct spending, is expected to arrive in 2027.

Discovery and Content Consumption

To improve how players find content, Roblox is updating its ranking algorithms to better account for player age. The system will prioritize longer-term engagement (up to 28 days) and reward games that successfully bring in new players. Furthermore, the "Moments" tab, which allows players to jump into games directly from video clips, has moved to full release in the US and will expand its interactive features—such as purchasing avatar items directly from videos—in the coming months.