Popular open-world gaming platform Roblox saw its stock pump this week, after fourth-quarter results were deemed better than expected. The VR project published Q4 results on Wednesday, revealing year-over-year growth of 21% when controlled for inflation.
Even when uncontrolled, the YoY jump was 17%, with bookings now totalling $889.4 million. This and other metrics caused the RBLX stock to rally by 24.8%, with Daily Active Users (DAUs) reaching 58.8 million during the fourth quarter, up 19% versus the same period in 2021.
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Another metric, hours engaged with, surged by 18% to hit 12.8 billion, a sure sign of the game’s appeal among a mostly younger audience.
As well as spending more time on Roblox, paying users are spending more of their hard-earned coin (pocket money is hard-earned, right?), with a 3% increase on the 2021 figure.
Roblox Invests Heavily in VR Vision
These results did not happen by accident: Roblox has invested heavily in its immersive platform, as the report itself demonstrates.
Not only did the company’s expenses for R&D and sales and marketing jump by 43.1% and 7.1% respectively, but administrative costs have also risen 34.2% year-over-year. Overall operational costs, meanwhile, have surged by 117% and now stand at $302 million.
At the end of 2022, the report shows that Roblox held cash and cash equivalents totalling $2.97 billion, as the platform gears up for another busy year.
“Bookings accelerated meaningfully in December and January, with year-over-year growth exceeding 20% in both months,” noted Michael Guthrie, the company’s Chief Financial Officer.
“Growth was strong across all geographies and age groups with particular strength among users above 17 years old.”
Roblox is planning to phase out monthly reports following its expected release in March. “By April 2023, we will have published monthly metrics over our first eight quarters as a public company.
“While we think that has provided incremental information to investors regarding the seasonality of the business, we have decided to cease providing monthly metrics to align our reporting cadence with our value of taking the long view,” the report stated.
Quarterly disclosures will continue to give investors an insight into Roblox’s performance.
In other Roblox news, its fantastical game Creatures of Sonaria is set to be adapted for the big screen. The project, a collaboration between Wind Sun Sky Entertainment (WSS) and Productivity Media, will be overseen by ex-Lucasfilm executive Catherine Wilder.
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