Some creators may soon be able to earn money fromRobloxfan games based on several popular IPs, includingLike a DragonandStranger Things. That’s thanks to a newly announced initiative that could reshape the massive market for unofficial fan games that has long thrived onRoblox.
UnlicensedRobloxgames based onPokemon,Star Wars, and countless other franchises have long been prevalent on the popular platform. While some rights holders attempted to actively supportRobloxto find new audiences, such attempts are still few and far between relative to unsanctioned projects.
In an apparent move to change this state of affairs, the Roblox Corporationlauncheda new licensing platform for in-game experiences on July 15. Called the Roblox License Manager (RLM), the solution allows rights holders to license their IPs to creators at scale. LicensedRobloxexperienceswill be monetizable, allowing users to earn money from their games. The revenue split and other licensing terms differ by IP and rights holder.
Kodansha
Blue Lock, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Sega, for example, is currently offering a 50/50 revenue split forLike a Dragonfan games that it agrees to license. The Japanese gaming giant will only consider submissions averaging at least 1,000daily active users onRoblox. The initial version of RLM also enjoys support from several other major entertainment giants, including manga and anime powerhouse Kodansha, as well as Lionsgate, which agreed to consider licensing fan games based onSaw,Twilight,Now You See Me, andDivergent.
Roblox May Soon Offer ‘More Nuanced’ IP Licensing Options
Right now, RLM only allows rights holders to license their IPs to fan experiences, which are essentially mini-games insideRoblox. However, a Roblox Corporation representative toldGame Filethat the company may offer “more nuanced” licensing options in the future. For example, instead of a full-fledged game, a company may be able to license its IP for a fan-made item, splitting the revenue from its sales with the creator. There’s currently no timeline for when these expanded options may roll out.
Some of the early supporters of the newly launched tool have long seen their IPs featured in countless unsanctioned experiences. For instance,Squid Gamefan games have been incredibly popular onRobloxfor a while now. The new rights management tool promises to tackle at least a portion of this gray market, allowing the most successful creators to get paid for their work, while simultaneously allowing publishers to tap into new audiences.
