What Is the Roblox Incubator?
The Incubator is a six-month, milestone-driven program for experienced development teams. It is designed to help teams turn promising game concepts into commercially successful, polished releases. Roblox provides direct support including development resources, platform expertise, and visibility. The program focuses on games that push Roblox into new territory — the kinds of experiences that look and feel different from what currently exists on the platform. This is not for your first game; it is for teams who have shipped before and want to build something ambitious.
What Is the Jumpstart Program?
Jumpstart is a continuous program aimed at two groups: creators who are new to Roblox and want to learn the platform, and experienced Roblox creators who want to explore new types of games. It is more accessible than the Incubator and provides onboarding support, educational resources, and guidance for getting started with novel game development. Think of it as Roblox investing in the next generation of developers who will build the platform's future content.
What Roblox Means by Novel Games
Roblox is specifically looking for games in genres that are underrepresented on the platform. They have highlighted RPGs, strategy games, and shooters as categories with high player demand but limited supply. Novel games should feature expanded gameplay mechanics that go beyond clicking and collecting, a distinct visual style that does not look like traditional Roblox, and gameplay experiences that appeal to the 18+ demographic. Roblox is trying to grow its older audience, and that requires games with more depth and sophistication.
- RPGs with deep progression, quests, and narrative
- Strategy games with base building, resource management, and tactical combat
- Shooters with polished gunplay, maps, and competitive modes
- Social experiences with novel interaction mechanics
- Games that use new platform features like SLIM, Texture Streaming, and voice chat
Platform Features for Novel Games
Roblox has been shipping features specifically to enable higher-fidelity games. SLIM (Scalable Lightweight Interactive Models) allows detailed environments that scale across devices. Texture Streaming loads high-resolution textures on demand without front-loading memory. Server Authority gives developers more control over networked game state. The Avatar Joint Upgrade enables more expressive character animation. Voice Chat now supports up to 100 users for social experiences. These tools are what Roblox expects novel game developers to use — building games that take full advantage of the modern platform.
How to Position Yourself
If you want to participate in either program, start by building a prototype that demonstrates your game's core concept and visual direction. Focus on what makes your game different from existing Roblox games. Use the latest platform features to show you are building for the future, not recreating what already exists. Document your team's experience, your development roadmap, and your vision for the game. Roblox is investing in teams that can execute, so having a playable demo carries far more weight than a pitch deck.