Roblox isn't just for kids anymore! The gaming giant revealed at its annual developer's conference that it's gearing up to serve not just the younger lot but also the 17+ demographic. And guess what? They're introducing a groundbreaking feature: Roblox Connect!
Think of Roblox Connect as a fusion between Zoom and Apple's Memoji. Imagine dialing up a friend on Roblox and meeting at a virtual dock or campsite. Your avatars engage in a voice call, mirroring your facial expressions in real-time, all thanks to Roblox’s cutting-edge facial motion tracking. Mind-blowing, right?
"Your avatar's facial expressions will match yours, down to the blink rate," stated Roblox's CTO and CPO. The company aims to expand the realism by eventually incorporating motion mapping for hand gestures and upper body movement. Imagine having a full-blown discussion using nothing but your avatar!
But wait, there's more! You don't need a Hollywood-grade motion-capture studio for this. Your smartphone or laptop camera will suffice. That's right; Roblox is bringing Hollywood to your pocket!
While avatars mimicking real-life expressions may seem like a gimmick today, Roblox believes it's the future of virtual interaction. Given the robust community that Roblox has, this feature could become the new norm for how its users communicate.
That's not all folks! Roblox also announced its forthcoming debut on PS4 and PS5 next month. Clearly, Roblox is pulling all stops to be omnipresent and redefine virtual socializing.
So, ready to add a new level of realism to your virtual hangouts? With Roblox Connect, virtual just got a lot more real!
