Roblox has unveiled its new licensing platform, which enables intellectual properties to be licensed for use by Roblox creators in a highly simplified fashion, bypassing the lengthy process that negotiating games based on IP usually entails.
Already on-board with the program are Sega, Netflix, Lionsgate, and Kodansha. Plans are afoot to onboard more IP holders in the months ahead.
Sega is making its Like A Dragon available to licence, while Netflix is offering the massively successful TV shows Squid Game and Stranger Things. Hollywood studio Lionsgate brings the four movie series Divergent, Now You See Me, Saw, and Twilight to the platform. Kodansha will debut two of its manga titles soon.
The two key components of the platform are the Roblox License Manager and the Licenses catalogue. The goal is to provide media licensing at scale, according to Roblox, with IP holders being able to “self-serve” as their properties are integrated into experiences.
Rights holders can use the License Manager to dictate licensing terms, including how their IP is used, content maturity, and revenue share. Roblox is giving IP holders the option to take a tailored approach when it comes to revenue sharing, or offer licences more openly. They can also scan for IP usage across existing experiences.
Developers, meanwhile, can browse and apply to get licences in the catalogue.
As pointed out by Game Developer, the terms of use and revenue split varies depending on the licence. With Like A Dragon, for example, Sega only takes a 50% cut of Robux revenue (after all platform fees), but requires creators to have a 1,000 daily active user minimum to obtain the licence in the first instance.
The terms of using the licence, too, require hewing closely to the world, story, and characters of the Like A Dragon games, so it’s not a free-for-all.
Netflix, meanwhile, has no user minimum but creators only get 15% of Robux spent on their experiences.
Roblox’s announcement points out that the initiative is part of its goal to have 10% of all gaming content revenue running through its ecosystem. As well as more licence holders joining up, it’s exploring new types of licences to add to the platform.