Beyond The Blox – Details, episodes & analysis

This week we're diving into Roblox's new AI text generation for NPCs, voice chat finally hitting PlayStation, improved lighting ranges, and a bunch of quality-of-life updates for developers.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:57) AI on Roblox - Text Generation Beta

(15:22) Lighting - Extended Range

(19:52) Ad break 1

(20:56) User Interface - UI Stroke Improvements

(28:54) Voice Chat - Arriving on Consoles

(33:53) Roblox Trivia

(35:47) Ad break 2

(36:32) Creator Hub - Improved Server Management

(47:24) Outro

Season 3 Episode 1

Sources:

- AI Text Generation Beta Expansion

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/text-generation-api-beta-expanding-access/3952348

— ⁠https://www.youtube.com/live/PVlCHE9pc50?t=1811s

- Extended Light Ranges

— ⁠https://devforum.roblox.com/t/extended-light-ranges-doubling-the-limit-to-120/3954367

— https://x.com/Fluorlite/status/1971008046139871564

- UIStroke Improvements

— ⁠https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-uistroke-improvements-scaling-offsets-and-more/3958036

- Voice Chat is Coming to Consoles

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/voice-chat-voicechatservice-is-coming-to-consoles/3940471

- Improved Server Management

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/introducing-server-management/3941907

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

With recent dissatisfaction around Roblox's chat and safety changes, Adam and Fedor explore if alternatives like Fortnite's UEFN or Polytoria could ever take its crown. They break down the "identity crisis" holding UEFN back and the chicken-and-egg problem facing smaller nostalgic platforms.

Episode 19

Sources:

- Fortnite Going All-In on UGC but Chasing Roblox: https://www.platformaeronaut.com/p/fortnite-going-all-in-on-ugc-but

- Unreal Engine GDC 2025 Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF1Q7FDBfGw

- Polytoria: https://polytoria.com/home

- Polytoria Documentation: https://docs.polytoria.com/

- Reddit: Why Polytoria (and every other Roblox clone) is doomed to fail: https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/1qw67t6/why_polytoria_and_every_other_roblox_clone_is/

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:29) Exploring UEFN as an Alternative

(08:08) Fortnite's Identity Crisis

(15:45) Discovery Problems on UEFN

(23:43) Fortnite vs Roblox by the Numbers

(27:13) Polytoria: The Hobbyist Alternative

(34:45) The Cost of Running a UGC Platform

(41:39) Will AAA Studios Build a Competitor?

(47:07) Outro

Roblox is changing how physics work with Server Authority. We built billiards and bowling demos to test if this new rollback netcode is ready to replace client-sided simulation for competitive games.

Episode 18

Sources:

- Server Authority Overview (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/projects/server-authority

- Server Authority Advanced Techniques (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/projects/server-authority/techniques

- Server Authority: How to Begin? (Community Guide) - https://devforum.roblox.com/t/server-authority-how-to-begin/4139185

- Input Action System (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/input/input-action-system

- BindToSimulation API Reference (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/RunService#BindToSimulation

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:35) What is Server Authority?

(03:52) Prerequisites and Settings

(07:54) How Rollback Netcode Works

(15:07) Rough Demo: Server Authority in Action

(24:09) BindToSimulation & Managing State

(35:34) Migrating 'The Lanes' to Server Authority

(46:02) The Impact on Competitive Game Design

(53:13) The Future of Roblox Scripting

(01:03:09) Outro

This week is a deep dive special into safety on Roblox and the recent features rolling out to combat bad actors: age estimation, chat segregation, social links ban and developer restrictions in Studio.

We talk through the background context on the tough safety challenges Roblox faces; the added pressure from media and lawsuits; and what we think of the platform changes.

All three of us are Roblox developers, over 18 years old. You might have a different perspective or opinion on the topics covered - let us know in the comments to continue the discussion.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:38) Main Challenges - Text, voice & rated content

(08:00) Pressure - News media & lawsuits

(12:40) CHANGE #1 - Chat segregation by age group

(19:24) CHANGE #2 - AI age estimation

(28:08) Combining signals - Possible future changes

(30:03) CHANGE #3 - Social links removed in-game

(35:34) Preventing off-platform chat - Discord

(40:04) CHANGE #4 - Studio restriction by age group

(43:42) Outro

Season 3 Episode 9

Sources:

- Roblox Safety information

— Learn about parental controls: https://corp.roblox.com/parental-controls

— Safety and Privacy tools: https://corp.roblox.com/safety-tools

— Understanding age checks: https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/39143693116052-Understanding-Age-Checks-on-Roblox

- Age checks, AI age estimation, chat restrictions

— Roblox blog: https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/11/roblox-requires-age-checks-limits-minor-and-adult-chat

— Roblox Developer Forum: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/age-checks-to-access-chat-studio-team-create-and-links-on-roblox/4079702

— BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lp5pn9e1qo

— New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/business/roblox-age-verification.html

— The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/nov/18/roblox-facial-age-estimation-children-adults-chats-blocked

— CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/18/tech/roblox-ai-age-verification-youth-safety

- Reports of inaccurate age estimation

— https://x.com/Stargenix19/status/1988085501803589980

— https://x.com/xNekorii/status/1986211434133369331

— https://x.com/imgarfie/status/1991026544576507927

— https://x.com/BossyFrosty213/status/1991568781458698396

— https://x.com/SilverSlayer908/status/1991134194047545621

— https://x.com/wolfboyswagger/status/1991201412986925212

- Interviews and podcasts

— New York Times (Hard Fork): https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/podcasts/hardfork-roblox-child-safety.html

— Roblox Tech Talks - Safety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckNAwhl-n0g

— Roblox Tech Talks - Update on Our Safety Initiatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuPGe99m8zs

- Prior reporting - incl. lawsuits and incidents

— Schlep cease and desist: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/roblox-ceo-resign-cease-desist-schlep-b2807586.html

— Attorney General Alliance: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/attorney-general-alliance-launches-new-initiative-to-protect-children-online-302598417.html

— Kentucky AG lawsuit: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-attorney-general-russell-coleman-sues-roblox/

— Louisiana AG lawsuit: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/15/us/louisiana-roblox-lawsuit-child-protection-hnk

— Texas AG lawsuit: https://www.reuters.com/world/texas-sues-roblox-allegedly-concealing-safety-concerns-parents-2025-11-06/

— Florida criminal subpoenas: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/florida-attorney-general-issues-subpoenas-roblox-over-child-safety-2025-10-20/

— Restrictions by country: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox#Restrictions_by_country

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

This week Rewarded Video Ads rolled out to everyone, developers got better tools to reimport meshes, content sharing APIs were released to make our own versions of Roblox Moments, Today’s Picks in the avatar marketplace is going festive, Studio Script Sync is in beta, game page videos got an upgrade and Roblox have opened up the ability to opt-in game passes for Robux purchases.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:13) Monetisation - Rewarded Video Ads

(07:57) Studio - Reimport Beta

(14:42) Moments - Content Sharing API

(19:41) Marketplace - Evolving Today’s Picks

(22:58) Roblox Trivia

(28:30) Studio - Script Sync Beta

(34:52) Game Page - Video Previews

(40:37) Monetisation - Robux and Gamepass Bundles

(44:43) Outro

Season 3 Episode 8

Sources:

- Rewarded Video Ads

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/rewarded-video-ads-are-now-available-to-all-ads-eligible-creators/4063278

- Studio Reimport (beta)

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-reimport-one-click-updates-for-imported-3d-content/4068650

- Content Sharing APIs (beta)

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/beta-content-sharing-apis-use-upload-api-and-recommendations-api-to-drive-discovery-and-engagement/4065417

- Marketplace Today’s Picks

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/evolving-today%E2%80%99s-picks-in-marketplace/4063692

— Submit nominations: https://survey.roblox.com/jfe/form/SV_8cZb94oj9OvQm9g

- Studio Script Sync (beta)

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-script-sync-now-in-beta/4065468

- Video Previews

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/video-previews-for-your-games-page/4068103

- “Buy Robux” Pass Bundles

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/opt-in-your-passes-for-the-buy-robux-page/4065622

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

Over the past week we saw Roblox's "4D Generation" early access, which lets users create custom objects with AI, Speech-to-Text beta went live, server CPU allocation became dynamic, and we got Roblox's solution to A/B testing. Plus, custom matchmaking is now available for all developers with configurable signals and experiment testing.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:01) 4D Generation - Early Access

(11:29) Speech-to-Text - API Beta

(19:12) In-Experience Creation - Custom Avatar Items

(30:31) Roblox Trivia

(35:16) Servers - Dynamic CPU Allocation

(39:56) Testing - Configs and Experiments

(52:57) Servers - Custom Matchmaking

(1:01:31) Outro

Season 3 Episode 7

Sources:

- 4D Generation (Early Access)

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/early-access-introducing-in-experience-4d-functional-objects-and-enhanced-3d-generation/4050893

- Speech-to-Text (Beta)

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/beta-introducing-the-speech-to-text-api/4044579

- In-Experience Creation (Beta)

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/client-beta-in-experience-creation-for-accessories-and-layered-clothing/4037419

- More Server CPU, Dynamic Allocation

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/launching-even-more-server-cpu/4044040

- Configs and Experiments

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/live-now-use-configs-and-experiments-to-grow-your-game-faster/4051385

- Custom Server Matchmaking

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/custom-matchmaking-is-now-available-to-all-experiences-on-roblox/4051419

— How matchmaking works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUMlnldI53A

— Developer docs: https://create.roblox.com/docs/matchmaking

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

We cover the new Emissive Maps in Studio Beta, which ensure consistent glow and material effects across all quality settings, plus the SLIM (Scalable, Lightweight, Interactive Models) system for auto-optimizing large worlds. On the platform side, we examine the new Safety Analytics dashboard for tracking player reports and the ongoing Testing Age Estimation feature requiring new users to submit verification. Finally, we look ahead to the community event EuroJam 2025.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:08) Emissive Maps - Studio Beta

(07:43) SLIM - Studio Beta

(13:48) Roblox Trivia

(16:31) Events - EuroJam 2025

(20:22) Developer Dashboard - Safety Analytics

(25:11) Safety & Civility - Age Estimation Checks

(33:23) Outro

Season 3 Episode 6

Sources:

- Emissive Maps Studio Beta

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-emissives/4034414

- SLIM Studio Beta

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-introducing-scalable-lightweight-interactive-models-slim/4034709

— https://x.com/MaximumADHD/status/1983794597118521748

- EuroJam 2025

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/introducing-eurojam-2025/4029615

— Roblox Creators Discord: https://discord.com/invite/nMNX5yHqFK

- Safety Analytics Dashboard

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/gain-insight-into-toxicity-in-your-experience-with-safety-analytics/4028415

- Age Estimation Testing

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/test-encouraging-users-to-complete-an-age-check-to-chat/4035155

Hosts:

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

This week we deep-dive into Roblox's Halloween Spotlight event running from 23 October to 3 November where 31 well-known experiences have quests to unlock Runes and Keys. These give access to trials where players can be rewarded with exclusive Avatar Items. But have smaller devs been excluded as Today's Picks curated sort is replaced with participating experiences only. We also touch on a few quality of life improvements rolling out for Roblox developers in the last week.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Events - Halloween Spotlight

(15:53) Roblox Trivia

(19:11) Studio - Default Properties

(22:04) Studio - WebSockets Support

(29:38) Open Cloud - More Asset Types

(34:06) Outro

Season 3 Episode 5

Sources:

- Halloween Spotlight

— https://www.roblox.com/spotlight/halloween-spotlight

— https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/10/halloween-spotlight

- Studio Default Properties

— https://x.com/Bloxy_News/status/1981454786458505672?t=tHbdfkC4PTlAG7Mbbd3PwA&s=19

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-user-provided-default-instances/4022156

- WebSockets in Studio

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/websockets-support-in-studio-is-now-available/4021932

- More Asset Type Support in Open Cloud

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/open-cloud-upload-support-for-more-asset-types/4022082

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

Roblox launches on ROG Xbox Ally and Samsung Galaxy Store as part of their ambitious goal to capture 10% of the gaming market, but simultaneously buries the “Continue” sort on the homepage. Developers also get access to new Lionsgate horror franchises with an improved pitch system, plus custom flipbook layouts that make particle animations more efficient and flexible.

Let us know in the comments if you'd like to see a particular guest or have an idea for a deep dive topic.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:45) Handhelds - ROG Xbox Ally X

(06:34) IP Licensing - New Lionsgate Franchises

(14:54) Roblox Trivia

(20:04) Ad break

(20:49) Homepage - "Continue" Sort Gone

(29:26) Events - Halloween Spotlight

(33:17) Particles - Custom Flipbook Layouts

(38:47) Outro

Season 3 Episode 4

Sources:

- Roblox coming to two new platforms

— https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/10/roblox-everywhere-bringing-roblox-two-new-platforms

— Device optimisation: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/handheld-ready-optimize-your-creations-for-any-device/3887726

- New Lionsgate IPs and pitch feature

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-lionsgate-ips-arrive-in-the-licenses-catalog-–-plus-the-new-pitch-feature/4008864/1

— Licensing platform: https://create.roblox.com/explore/licenses

- “Continue” sort being buried on home page

— https://x.com/Abstract_Alex/status/1978134759349104724

- Halloween Spotlight

— https://x.com/Roblox/status/1978153942405005436

— https://x.com/Roblox/status/1979222934959935733

— (AFTER RECORDING) https://x.com/Roblox/status/1980698146499076206

- Custom flipbook layouts for particles

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/client-beta-optimize-your-particle-animations-with-custom-flipbook-layouts/4005128

— Particle emitter docs: https://create.roblox.com/docs/en-us/reference/engine/classes/ParticleEmitter

— Original beta: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/animated-particles-with-the-particle-flipbooks-beta/1718023

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

The Avatar Makeup Beta showed us tech that Roblox developers can use for many other purposes than just makeup, Text to Speech was fully released and we got early access to Server Authority.

Ad: Play The Lanes on Roblox: https://thelanes.vip

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:04) Text to Speech - Full Release

(08:23) Server Authority - Early Access

(22:06) Roblox Trivia

(27:14) Ad break

(27:58) Avatar Marketplace - Makeup Beta

(38:31) Immersive Video - Advanced API Beta

(43:57) Outro

Season 3 Episode 3

Sources:

- Text to Speech API Release

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/build-more-immersive-experiences-text-to-speech-api-full-release/3986607

— Available voices: https://create.roblox.com/docs/audio/objects#text-to-speech

— Use limits: https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/AudioTextToSpeech

- Server Authority Early Access

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/early-access-server-authority/3983188

- Avatar Makeup Beta

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-introducing-avatar-makeup/3973764

— Creator Hub docs: https://create.roblox.com/docs/makeup

— WrapTextureTransfer instance: https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/WrapTextureTransfer

— ComposeDecalAsync API: https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/AssetService#ComposeDecalAsync

— Beta files: https://github.com/Roblox/avatar/tree/main/Makeup

— MaximumADHD, investigating underlying tech: https://x.com/MaximumADHD/status/1974005886294061452

- Advanced Video Beta

— https://devforum.roblox.com/t/studio-beta-advanced-video-api-synchronize-video-control-3d-audio-and-more/3972775

— Advanced audio: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-audio-api-beta-elevate-sound-and-voice-in-your-experiences/2848873

— Wires docs: https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/Wire

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.