Roblox Corporation
Company History
Roblox History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2004 in Menlo Park, California, United States
When was Roblox founded?
Roblox was founded in 2004 in Menlo Park, California, United States by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, making it 22 years old.
- Founded
- 2004
- Founding place
- Menlo Park, California, United States
- Founders
- David Baszucki and Erik Cassel
- Headquarters today
- San Mateo, California
- Milestones documented
- 12 (2004–2026)
- Current CEO
- David Baszucki
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2004 | DynaBlocks development begins |
| 2006 | Roblox launches publicly |
| 2012 | Roblox Released on iOS |
| 2013 | Developer Exchange launches |
| 2020 | Acquired Loom.ai |
| 2020 | Series G Funding |
| 2021 | Roblox direct listing |
| 2021 | Acquired Guilded |
| 2024 | Bookings exceed $4B |
| 2025 | Revenue reaches $4.891B |
| 2026 | Q1 DAUs reach 132.3M |
| 2026 | Bookings growth slows after safety changes |
- Where was Roblox founded?
- Roblox was founded in Menlo Park, California, United States in 2004. en.wikipedia.org
- Who founded Roblox?
- Roblox was founded by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel.
- When did Roblox start?
- Roblox was founded in 2004.
- How old is Roblox?
- Roblox is 22 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
David Baszucki and Erik Cassel had worked together on Interactive Physics, an educational physics simulator from Knowledge Revolution. Seeing students build their own contraptions with it gave them the idea for a platform where users create for each other. They began building a prototype called DynaBlocks in 2004, renamed it Roblox, and launched it publicly in 2006.
Founders
David Baszucki
David Baszucki co-founded Roblox with Erik Cassel in 2004 and has served as CEO since. Before Roblox, he co-founded Knowledge Revolution, whose Interactive Physics software let students model physical experiments. He led Roblox through its 2006 launch, the 2013 Developer Exchange, and its 2021 NYSE direct listing. He holds Class B shares that carry 20 votes each, giving him outsized voting control. David Baszucki was born in 1963 in Winnipeg. Education: Eden Prairie High School. David Brent Baszucki was born on January 20, 1963 and is a Canadian-born American. Knowledge Revolution, the company he co-founded and led, was acquired by MSC Software in December 1998.
Erik Cassel
Erik Cassel (1967-2013) graduated from Cornell University with a degree in physics. Following the sale of Knowledge Revolution, he co-founded Roblox with David Baszucki in 2004. As Vice President of Engineering, Cassel wrote the initial backend architecture and much of the fundamental physics code that allowed users to create and share interactive 3D experiences. He passed away from cancer in 2013. Erik Stefan Cassel was born on December 16, 1967 and died on February 11, 2013. He served as Roblox's chief scientist and worked on the product from its earliest prototypes until his death. Erik Cassel was born in 1967.
Key Milestones
DynaBlocks development begins
David Baszucki and Erik Cassel begin building the physics-based creation platform that becomes Roblox.
Source: sec.govRoblox launches publicly
The platform launches as Roblox, combining user-generated games, avatars, and building tools.
Source: sec.govRoblox Released on iOS
Roblox released its iOS app in December 2012, its first mobile version.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDeveloper Exchange launches
DevEx allows creators to convert earned Robux into real-world currency, strengthening the creator economy.
Source: sec.govSeries G Funding
Roblox raised $150 million in a Series G round in February 2020 at a $4 billion valuation.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRoblox direct listing
Roblox lists publicly on the New York Stock Exchange through a direct listing.
Source: sec.govBookings exceed $4B
Roblox reports FY2024 bookings of $4.124B as average DAUs reach 97.8M.
Source: sec.govRevenue reaches $4.891B
Roblox reports FY2025 revenue of $4.891B, bookings of $5.971B, and 111.8M average DAUs.
Source: sec.govQ1 DAUs reach 132.3M
Roblox reports Q1 2026 revenue of $1.442B, bookings of $1.733B, and 132.3M average DAUs.
Source: sec.govBookings growth slows after safety changes
Q2 2026 bookings rose 8% to $1.557B with 123M DAUs; Q3 2026 bookings guided down 14% to 18% year over year.
Source: ir.roblox.comMajor Acquisitions
Loom.ai
2020Added avatar and facial animation technology.
Guilded
2021Added community communication tools for gaming communities.
Speechly
2023Added voice moderation and speech technology capability.
Keep researching Roblox
Roblox Company History FAQ
When and where was Roblox founded?
Roblox was founded in 2004 in Menlo Park, California (later moving its headquarters to San Mateo, California) by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel.
What was the original name of Roblox before its official launch?
The platform was initially conceived as GoBlocks and developed under the name DynaBlocks in 2004, before the co-founders officially rebranded it to "Roblox"—a portmanteau of "robots" and "blocks"—in 2005.
What software did David Baszucki build prior to creating Roblox?
In 1989, David Baszucki and his brother Greg founded Knowledge Revolution, developing an educational 2D physics simulation program called "Interactive Physics." MSC Software acquired the company for $20 million in 1998, where Baszucki and Erik Cassel worked before creating Roblox.
Who was Erik Cassel and what was his contribution to Roblox?
Erik Cassel was the co-founder and VP of Engineering at Roblox who architected much of the original physics engine and multi-user networking code. Cassel passed away in February 2013 after a battle with cancer, and is honored with an in-game memorial and community tributes.
When did Roblox introduce the Developer Exchange (DevEx) program?
Roblox launched DevEx in October 2013, allowing creators to convert earned in-game Robux into real-world fiat currency (USD), transforming Roblox from a simple gaming site into a multi-million-dollar creator economy.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact Roblox's user growth?
During 2020 lockdowns, Roblox experienced exponential growth as school closures led millions of children and teenagers to socialize, play, and attend virtual events online, nearly doubling its daily active users from 19 million to over 37 million in under a year.
When did Roblox go public and how was it executed?
Roblox completed a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol "RBLX" on March 10, 2021. Its stock opened at $64.50, valuing the company at over $45 billion on its first day of trading.
What was the historic Lil Nas X concert on Roblox?
In November 2020, rapper Lil Nas X performed a groundbreaking virtual concert on Roblox, drawing over 33 million views across four performances and validating Roblox as a premier venue for global digital entertainment and branded pop-culture events.
What is Luau and why was it developed for Roblox?
Luau is Roblox's proprietary, fast, embeddable scripting language derived from Lua 5.1. Introduced in 2019-2020, Luau features gradual typing and performance optimizations designed to make game coding accessible to novices while executing efficiently for complex physics.
How has Roblox aged up its user demographic?
Historically popular among children under 13, Roblox introduced spatial voice chat, 17+ mature age-verified experiences, dynamic avatar heads, and photorealistic graphics, making the 17-to-24 age group its fastest-growing demographic cohort.
When did Roblox launch on PlayStation and Meta Quest?
Roblox launched on Meta Quest VR in September 2023 and released on Sony PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in October 2023, expanding its reach across console and VR ecosystems beyond iOS, Android, PC, and Xbox.
What major safety and child protection milestones has Roblox implemented?
Roblox invested heavily in automated machine learning text filtering, human safety moderators, age verification via ID, and parental control dashboards, continually adapting to global digital child safety regulations like the UK Online Safety Act.
Related Companies
Compare Roblox Corporation History With Competitors
Related Strategic History
Compare founding milestones and corporate evolution
Explore Roblox
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.