The popularity ofRoblox,the game creation system developed and published by Roblox Corporation, has been steadily growing since it first released on PC in 2006. The game has become so ubiquitous, in fact, that in 2020 it was revealed that over half of US kids under the age of 16 playedRoblox, andRoblox Corporation even passed Activision Blizzard as the most valuable gaming companyin 2021.
InRoblox,when a player dies, they make a grunting noise, which is now a hallmark of the game, so much so that it has become the subject of countless memes over the years and can even be heard echoing from playgrounds during recess. In 2020, thisiconic “oof” sound was temporarily removed fromRobloxand seemed under threat of disappearing for good when the original creator, Tommy Tallarico, found out that the sound was being used without his permission. He later came to an agreement with Roblox Corporation to allow the “oof” to remain in the game.
RELATED:Roblox Is Most Searched Online Game in the World for Unexpected Reason
It seems that the agreement between Roblox Corporation and Tallarico has not lasted, however, or perhaps its terms have come to a predetermined end. Roblox has announced that the famous “oof” will no longer be available, and players will instead hear a new default sound when they die in the game. The company also stated that its roadmap forRobloxcurrently includes one day allowing players to add sounds to the game by licensing them directly from their creators. Eventually, it may even be possible to customize character avatars in the same manner as clothing.
This isn’t the first time Roblox Corporation has found itself dealing with licensing and creative disputes. SinceRobloxis a creation portal that allows people to both make their own games and play those made by others, some questionable content has made its way onto the platform. In April, ARobloxcreator developed a game that apparently featured footage from Kim Kardashian’s notorious sex tape. Unfortunately, the influencer’s son Saint found the game, andKim Kardashian threatened to take legal action againstRobloxover the incident.
In that same vein, the developer has also been on the other side of things. In November 2021,Roblox Corporation filed a lawsuit against a YouTuberwho goes by the name Ruben Sim. The content creator, whose real name is Benjamin Robert Simon, has been banned from playingRobloxfor several years. The lawsuit claimed that, in retaliation, Simon allegedly led a “cybermob” and incited “unlawful acts designed to injureRobloxand its users.” He was also accused of hacking the platform and making terroristic threats. Roblox Corporation was asking for $1.6 million in damages, though the case has since been settled out of court with Simon not being required to pay any money.
Robloxis currently available on Mobile, PC, and Xbox One.
