Roblox shares jump 11% after unveiling new creator tools

Roblox shares jumped more than 11% on Monday after the company unveiled new creation tools and player features aimed at making games easier to build and access across devices.

The updates were announced at Roblox’s developer conference on Sept. 11 and include new options for creators to publish games as standalone apps across mobile, PC and consoles.

Players will also be able to launch games directly in a web browser without installing them, continue playing offline and maintain conversations with friends across different experiences.

Roblox also introduced Roblox Build, a tool designed to let users create games by describing what they want to make.

CEO David Baszucki said the company believes the technology is reaching the point where anyone can create a 2D game, 3D game or puzzle experience directly from the Roblox mobile app.

The new tools are part of Roblox’s broader push to expand its creator ecosystem and attract more users following a slowdown in user growth after the company introduced additional online safety measures.

Roblox said creators earned $1.7 billion over the past 12 months.

Baszucki also said the upcoming release of Take Two Interactive’s latest Grand Theft Auto title could encourage more people to play and create games, particularly as Roblox looks to expand its appeal among older users.