Roblox is streamlining social gaming on its platform with a Party feature. YPulse has said that young people use video games as a social space, whether by playing together IRL or connecting over chat functions from different places. Now, Roblox players can organize their group plays right in the game with a chat and server, rather than using another platform like Discord (which could be a huge loss for the latter). This will also let them travel within the game together, and incoming updates will let developers create experiences exclusive to players using the Party feature—making it even more attractive for a group session. It does have protections so that Party groups don’t include strangers, especially for the youngest players: gamers under 13-years-old cannot chat in Party and all players must be friends with the others in their group. (Mashable)
📊 YPulse data: 52% of 13-17-year-olds hang out with friends virtually in video games
