During the much-anticipated Roblox's annual Developer Conference, a groundbreaking revelation took center stage: the beloved platform is set to debut on PlayStation 4 and PS5.
The era of experiencing Roblox on PlayStation is upon us, marking a new chapter in the game's illustrious journey; and it looks like it is not just stopping there.
Meta Quest and 'Connect'
Earlier in the year, a preliminary beta version of Roblox made its mark on the Meta Quest platform. The reception was overwhelmingly positive, garnering over a million downloads within the initial five days of its release. This was for players using the Quest 2 or Quest Pro headsets. Following this success, the company has promised a comprehensive launch on the Quest platform later this month.
Furthermore, Roblox is introducing "Connect," a novel feature enhancing the gaming experience. This system will empower players to reach out to friends within the game, utilizing their authentic names, facial expressions, and body language. By directing a camera towards themselves, players' real-life expressions can be mirrored onto their in-game avatar.
Roblox first dabbled with this motion-capture technology in August. The inception of Roblox Connect is the brand's inaugural move to amalgamate this technology with in-game communication capabilities.
Detailing this innovative technology in a blog post, the company mentioned it's available for players aged 13 years and above. Before players can engage with this feature, they are required to grant Roblox permission to access their camera.
Addressing privacy concerns, the company has asserted that no information from the camera is recorded or stored. Additionally, the video feed from the camera remains confined to the user's device.
The particulars concerning the PlayStation release remain somewhat limited at the moment. However, Roblox has assured that players across both, the previous and latest generation PlayStation devices, will have full access to the extensive array of Roblox offerings.
The PlayStation Release
Roblox has announced that once its app rolls out on PS4 and PS5, PlayStation enthusiasts can look forward to delving into the entirety of Roblox's expansive catalog. This means players will have the convenience of signing into their accounts and diving straight into their preferred games and experiences.
When probed about a potential release on the Nintendo Switch, company spokesperson Roman Skuratovskiy articulated the company's overarching ambition: to make Roblox available on every possible device globally. However, he clarified that, currently, there are no immediate plans to introduce Roblox on the Nintendo Switch.
It is noteworthy that Roblox first saw the light of day in 2006 for PCs, expanded to mobile devices some years later, and made its way to Xbox in 2015. With its imminent arrival on PlayStation and VR, it continues its trajectory of platform expansion.
Echoing this sentiment, Roblox's founder David Baszucki hinted at more platform releases in the future, and many speculate that the Nintendo Switch could be a potential contender.