What Are the Alternate Publishing Requirements?
Under the new rules, creators can still publish games on Roblox for free. However, additional requirements will apply to games that want to remain available to users under 16 through the new Kids and Select account types.
Roblox clarified that:
- Anyone who completes an age check can still publish games for trusted friends and verified 16+ users
- Existing eligible games with at least 500 highly engaged players in the last 60 days will automatically qualify for Kids and Select access during the initial rollout
- New or updated games after the global June launch may require a one-time refundable publishing fee unless the creator has an active Roblox Plus or Premium subscription
Refundable Publishing Fee Explained
One of the biggest concerns from creators was whether Roblox was introducing mandatory paid publishing. The company says that is not the case.
The publishing fee is:
- A one-time payment
- Fully refundable after 90 days of eligibility
- Also refundable if the game fails to become eligible within 90 days, unless it was permanently moderated for repeated rule violations
Creators who maintain a Roblox Premium or Roblox Plus subscription for at least two consecutive months will not need to pay the fee at all.
Roblox also confirmed that developers who received six months of free Plus membership as part of the company’s recent creator initiative will continue to avoid publishing fees while their subscription remains active.
Private Games and Playtests
The update also changes how private games and playtests are handled.
Creators can still publish games privately for personal use without restrictions. Team members with edit permissions will continue to access private experiences normally.
However, Roblox says that beginning in mid-June:
- Collaboration on private games will require creators to meet age requirements
- Games shared with Playtest permissions will now count as public publishing and must follow the same publishing rules as other public experiences
Games Could Lose Kids and Select Access
Roblox says games may lose eligibility for younger audiences if they become inactive.
Experiences with fewer than 100 highly engaged players over a 60-day period may no longer appear for Kids and Select users. According to Roblox, this policy is intended to reduce potential safety risks in abandoned or poorly maintained games.
Even if eligibility is lost, games will still remain playable for trusted friends and verified 16+ users. Developers can regain Kids and Select eligibility if their experience once again reaches 500 highly engaged players within 60 days.
Checking Eligibility in Creator Hub
Developers can check whether their experiences qualify by visiting the Audience Reach section of the Creator Hub.
If a game already meets Roblox’s engagement and content maturity requirements, it will automatically become available to Kids and Select users as the global rollout continues next month.
