Roblox Unveils AI-Enhanced Game Creation Tool for Mobile Users

On Thursday, Roblox introduced a new feature called “Build,” which enables users to create games directly from their mobile devices using AI technology.

The Build feature empowers anyone to turn simple text prompts into a basic game without needing coding expertise. For example, if a user types, “Let’s create a cozy adventure game set in a dense forest,” the feature produces an initial version of the game that users can further customize and share with friends.

“Powered by a variety of AI models, both open-source and proprietary to Roblox, Build manages gameplay mechanics, environments, characters, visuals, audio, and more,” the company stated in its blog post.

Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Tencent have developed similar tools. However, the rise of AI-driven game creation has raised concerns among developers and gamers, with some critics arguing that simplifying game development through text prompts could lead to an influx of low-quality and repetitive games. This trend may increase competition on the platform, as creators will face not only other developers but also rapidly generated AI content.

These concerns are reflected in the latest Game Developers 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 sector.

In response to these challenges, Roblox plans to rank AI-generated games based on player retention, similar to the ranking system used for other titles on the platform. Games that do not attract players will not be featured prominently.

“Our discovery systems are designed to highlight games that sustain long-term player engagement, thereby excluding poor-quality AI creations. The quality of games showcased on the homepage remains unchanged: If no one plays it—no one can find it. The goal with these new tools is to promote quicker creation for all experience levels,” the company added.

The Build feature is slated to enter public alpha testing on July 28, available to users in New Zealand who are nine years or older and have verified their age. Users aged 16 and up will have the opportunity to publish their games for a global audience. A free basic version will be available, along with premium options.

In addition to the Build feature, Roblox is also working on AI agents to assist creators with playtesting and provide analysis. These capabilities are expected to launch in the upcoming months.

This new feature highlights Roblox’s ongoing commitment to AI, which includes developing an AI foundation model for generating 3D game assets and an AI chatbot to assist developers throughout the game creation process. Furthermore, Roblox is working on a “new scene-generation model” that can create entire editable and playable 3D scenes based on a single text prompt.

Moreover, this announcement comes on the heels of Roblox’s decision to discontinue “Roblox Connect,” the avatar-based video calling feature that was launched in 2023.