


In a nutshell, the industry is scorching hot, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating growth just as it has fueled the digital transformation of the global economy. The rich valuation reflected both Roblox’s business model, which focuses as much on entertainment as it does on creating an immersive social experience, and the market for online gaming. Not bad for a company with no history of blockbuster titles whose biggest market segment is preteens. That represented a more than tenfold increase in the company’s worth since a funding round in February 2020 and catapulted it ahead of some of the industry’s biggest names, like Electronic Arts Inc., known for sports titles like FIFA, and Take-Two Interactive, which controls Grand Theft Auto. Roblox Corporation, founded in 2004, went public on March 10, listing shares on the New York Stock Exchange at an opening price of $64.50, translating to a valuation of $42 billion. But if you’re an investor, you’re probably paying attention now. If you don’t have kids, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Roblox, a free online gaming platform best known for its Lego-like graphics.
