Since the launch of user-generated bundles on the marketplace in 2023, many creators, including me, have utilized the tools offered by Roblox to create unique characters that fit within the standing guidelines. As a UGC creator, I have heavily invested hundreds of hours into making bundles that have been recognized and promoted by Roblox on their website and social media. However, many of these bundles, which I rely on for my income, have been removed from the website due to a change or misinterpretation of the guidelines. At the same time, bundles with similar characteristics, which should also be removed to fit with any new guidelines, remain on the catalog.
The Issue
By not enforcing marketplace policies uniformly across the platform, the following issues ensue:
- Unfair competition
- Appearance of double standards/uneven interpretation of the guidelines
- Reduced productivity due to fear of having a bundle removed
Specific Examples
Modesty Layer
In recent times, Roblox’s stance on modesty layers has appeared inconsistent – especially towards blocky avatars. As it stands, marketplace policy states that “A modesty layer is a layer of clothing that covers an avatar’s upper torso and lower torso,” and is required on all humanoid characters. Specifically, “The lower torso modesty layer must provide full coverage from the avatar’s hips to the bottom of the groin and buttocks.”
Since the release of modesty layers, most creators have implemented a piece of opaque clothing solely on the lower torso of the bundle (see image above). Because classic/blocky characters are not as detailed as the examples given in the guidelines (see image below) and do not contain a distinct buttocks/groin area, it has become commonplace for such avatars to simply contain a black/white bar that covers the entire lower torso.
However, starting in October of last year, many creators have been faced with bans and warnings because the moderation team decided to interpret the guidelines differently for blocky avatars. When appealing any blocky bundle, support would state that the modesty layer should “extend toward the legs” and to review the marketplace policy. This is a major problem for creators because nowhere in the guidelines does it mention that blocky avatars need the modesty layer to extend past the groin and hips. Additionally, UGC creators do not have the ability to update modesty layers. So, if you already uploaded blocky bundles, your account and UGC permissions would be at risk.
Furthermore, the main problem, i.e. overall issue, is the inconsistency with enforcing such a guideline change. Since October, Roblox has continued to allow dozens of blocky bundles without any modesty layer on the legs to be published on the marketplace. So, while some creators are punished for lacking the extended layer, many more are freely able to upload a shorter layer that obscures less of the avatar and gives the creator an edge over other users who follow a semi-enforced rule (see image below). With no official clarification posted in the guidelines and Roblox seemingly allowing torso-only modesty layers again, UGC creators are at risk to face moderation at any time for an issue that is out of their control or knowledge.
Size Limits
Another major inconsistency since the launch of bundles has been the minimum size limit for characters and its enforcement. Over the past year and a half, Roblox has justifiably changed the validation surrounding transparency and avatar size to ensure that no bundle can disrupt or be abused in an experience. While this is a good change that has helped game developers and prevented major exploits with bundles, the current validation requirements have not been enforced fairly.
With each new change in size & transparency validation, many small bundles, such as the ones shown above, have been correctly moderated under the current guidelines. However, there are certainly over 100 bundles that are the same size, if not smaller, that have remained on the catalog or deleted and appealed (see image below).
For reference, I have attached an image of one of the shortest humanoid bundles you can achieve under the current validation requirements compared to a bundle that has not been revalidated/moderated despite no longer following updated size and transparency standards. Under the current body requirements it is not possible for a creator to make a bundle below a certain size and volume. That means if you are a UGC creator, there is no way for you to compete against other bundles because those bundles were created under validation rules that no longer exist.
As of writing this request, there are well over 20+ bundles in the bestselling category that would not be approved under the current validation system but continue to remain on sale due to inconsistent moderation. Being a UGC creator, I hope to see such gaps in moderation addressed either through a system that automatically re-validates bundles after a certain period of time or by creating any method to ensure changes in policy are addressed among all creators.
Limb & Torso Validation
Another issue that has gone majorly unaddressed is:
- The inconsistency on determining what counts as an arm/leg/torso on a bundle
- The amount of limbs allowed on an avatar.
When bundles were first released in the program, the guidelines stated and continue to state that a bundle must contain “1 right arm, 1 left arm, 1 right leg, 1 left leg, 1 torso and 1 head.” However, when making a bundle, a creator is able to fit 2 or more appendages while still being considered 1 limb under Roblox’s validation (see image above). Several months after the release of bundles, Roblox appeared to set a precedent on the matter by removing all 5+ limbed bundles, including mine (shown above). A few months later, however, creators were once again allowed to upload multi-legged/armed characters without any problem, including my own bundle which I appealed for. While the moderation team’s decision to allow multilimbed bundles is very beneficial towards UGC Creators, their actions do not line up with the written guidelines.
As shown above, Roblox requires all extra limbs to be created as complementary clothing and accessories rather than being part of a bundle. The current state of the marketplace, however, shows the exact opposite reality being enforced. If moderative actions do not line up with the rules listed on the guidelines (e.g. appealing 8 limbed bundles), creators will assume the bundles they have created are in line with the rules despite actually being at risk of having their assets removed at any time.
The second portion of the issue surrounding limb validation is the inconsistency when determining what counts as a hand, a leg, a torso or a head. Last year, I uploaded a bundle (shown below) to the catalog. Despite appearing to only have legs, it correctly passed validation due to actually containing the required amount of limbs (2 arms, 2 legs, 1 torso, 1 head) put together in a creative fashion. Although the bundle was initially removed for “invisibility/misuse,” I successfully appealed the bundle after showing that the character contained all body parts as listed in the guidelines. However, several months later, the bundle was once again removed and not restored. Without any update to the guidelines or announcement, it was decided by Roblox that all limbs must be visible on a bundle.
Because of this sudden change in interpretation, dozens of creators are now at risk of having their items deleted without any knowledge of wrongdoing. Additionally, this does not only apply to limbs. Another bundle of mine (shown below) was moderated because there was not a clear enough distinction between its head and its torso.
The bundles shown below, along with many more should, by Roblox’s current interpretation of the guidelines, be removed. But once again, this new ruling is not consistently enforced across all creators. To clarify, none of these bundles are at risk due to having invisible or tiny limbs. Rather, they are now at risk of deletion because their torso and head are too similar to one another or their arms/legs blend into the bundle too much to be distinguishable. However, UGC Creators are not aware of such issues because none of this is clearly stated in the guidelines. The only way to know about this issue is if your account has already been moderated and you are told about the moderation reason by Roblox support.
The launch of UGC Bundles has allowed Roblox users to take their creativity to the next level. With such a complex system, there are many rules that must be implemented to prevent creators from exploiting or abusing the system. As a creator, I truly appreciate Roblox’s effort to streamline the bundle process and update the guidelines to improve the marketplace as a whole. However, the problem of inconsistent moderation along with the guideline being interpreted differently every few months by Roblox moderation has made it very difficult to work on bundles as a UGC Creator.
It is my hope that the moderation regarding bundles will change in the near future to ensure that UGC Creators are able to compete in a fair manner and have equal opportunity to sell their items in the marketplace; either through an automated re-validation system or by other means. Additionally, it is extremely important to have the aforementioned issues defined clearly in the Avatar Body Guidelines to make uploading bundles a safer and more consistent process for all creators.