Introducing Physically-Based Rendering (PBR) for Avatar Accessories

[runlola_run24]

[Update] July 28, 2025

@runlola_run24

PBR for Avatar Accessories and Hair has been relaunched! Creators can now publish and sell items with PBR on Marketplace. Thank you all for your patience while we work through issues the past two weeks.

Users can also discover items with PBR on Marketplace in Today’s Picks beginning today, and in a dedicated sort on Marketplace beginning next week. Our team of curators will be prioritizing items with PBR in Today’s Picks over the next few weeks.

We look forward to seeing what you create! Please share any feedback in the comments.

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Hi Creators,

As announced in our Upcoming Launches for Avatar Creators post earlier this year, we’re excited to announce that starting today, Physically-Based Rendering (PBR) textures are now available for items on the Marketplace.

You may already be familiar with PBR from layered clothing and bodies. PBR uses roughness and metalness properties to simulate how light interacts with materials, creating more realistic and visually rich assets. This enhancement allows for much higher quality accessories, enabling creators to bring more detailed and immersive visions to life. This will include all accessory types such as Hats, Face Accessories, and Back Accessories as well as Hair.

Additionally, we are launching new ways for avatar creators to earn more for publishing premium items like items with PBR. Now, creators will earn a higher revenue share for items priced above the price floor. The higher you price your items above the floor, the higher the revenue share will be. You can read more about this opportunity here.

What is PBR?

Physically-Based Rendering (PBR) uses multiple texture maps to define how surfaces react to light and environmental conditions. By combining color, normal, roughness, and metalness maps, you can create accessories that look and feel more realistic - from the shine of metallic jewelry to the soft texture of fabric hats.

How to Publish Items with PBR

The process for publishing PBR accessories is identical to the workflow for layered clothing:

1. Import your custom 3D model with assigned PBR textures using the Import 3D tool.
2. If your PBR textures don’t automatically import and apply to your model, add a SurfaceAppearance object to your Model and upload and apply the following image maps:

• ColorMap: Defines the base color of the surface.
• NormalMap: Adds surface detail without adding more polygons.
• RoughnessMap: Controls how rough or smooth a surface appears, affecting light diffusion.
• MetalnessMap: Determines how metallic a surface is, influencing reflections.

3. Covert the Model to an Accessory using the Accessory Fitting Tool.

• When converting your rigid accessory in the Accessory Fitting Tool, use the default Generate MeshPart Accessory instead of Generate Legacy Accessory.

4. Upload to Marketplace

• NormalMaps and ColorMaps will be validated to ensure they are opaque.
• PBR textures for accessories will be limited to a maximum size of 256x256 pixels for Normal, Roughness, and Metalness Maps. This helps optimize performance while still allowing for high-quality visuals. ColorMap will continue to have a max size of 1024x1024.

Transparency is not yet possible, but we will be adding that ability very soon. For now, SurfaceAppearance.AlphaMode = Enum.AlphaMode.Overlay will be the default mode.

You can learn more about rigid accessory creation here and here.

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FAQs

Is there a separate upload fee for items with PBR?

• No, the upload fee for PBR items remains the same as regular items - 750 Robux.

Can I upload the same item with and without PBR?

• Yes, you can upload both PBR and non-PBR versions of the same item since they’re technically different items. This allows you to offer options for users with different preferences or device capabilities.

Are items with PBR subject to a different price floor?

• Yes, items with PBR textures will have a different price floor than standard items to reflect their enhanced value for users. Additionally, creators can increase their revenue share by pricing premium items such as those with PBR above the price floor.

What avatar item categories can now have PBR?

• All accessory categories now support PBR, including: Head Accessories (Hats), Hair, Face Accessories, Shoulder Accessories, Front Accessories, Waist Accessories.

Do I need to add PBR to accessories?

• No. PBR textures are optional - you can continue creating accessories without them.

[ev1]

LFGGGGGG
we can make proper sparkly items now

[idelww]

@runlola_run24

Transparency is not yet possible, but we will be adding that ability very soon. For now, SurfaceAppearance.AlphaMode = Enum.AlphaMode.Overlay will be the default mode.

Any estimated release?

ANYWAYS HUGE W!!!

[Rockerite]

I’ve been waiting for this update for years, which is why I am disappointed to see that PBR Avatar Accessories will have a higher price floor.

It has been proven time and time again that cheaper accessories will always win over their expensive counterparts. Anyone who makes unique PBR accessories will have their items stolen and priced for cheaper without using PBR.

I don’t believe that PBR adds enough value to the consumer to consider purchasing an accessory for a higher price.

[abidbmt (abid)]

Will we also see PBR for 2D clothing and/or PBR for bodyparts?

[qliz]

@runlola_run24

Are items with PBR subject to a different price floor?

• Yes, items with PBR textures will have a different price floor than standard items to reflect their enhanced value for users. Additionally, creators can increase their revenue share by pricing premium items such as those with PBR above the price floor.

What are we doing here? IMO, this greatly reduces my excitement and the possibilities to actually be able to capitalize on this feature.

Historically speaking, items priced at the price floor are the only ones that have been able to truly compete in the marketplace. This will be no different for PBR accessories, since they won’t be able to compete vs. non PBR items that are sold at a lower price floor. Can this please be re-evaluted?

[Bloxec (一一一一)]

This is exactly my concern, regular users will probably not understand or appreciate the difference in quality that PBR accessories bring, and will instead be turned away by the higher floor price, which completely undermines the time and effort taken to make these textures.

[Enzotsky (kala)]

Can the PBR on hats be seen with R6 or is it only R15?

[enzogamer123vv (8800GTX)]

When we will have Emissive Maps?

[Blizzei]

I’m very delighted to see this finally coming out, however for alpha maps I’m genuinely wondering what timeframe that would be whether it be weeks or even a month until its possible

[Dogon]

Accessories utilizing basic rendering features like normal maps being considered “premium” and requiring a higher price floor is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while, it’s so exactly on brand with the decision making I expect from Roblox.

The general user will absolutely not see it that way and the items that thrive will continue to be the cheapest options available. This incentivizes people to not even bother making something using the technology at all if it can’t possibly compete in the marketplace.

[Mythiclys]

Very good update however I’d like to also vouch that the higher price floor the PBR UGC will definitely turn away a lot of UGC buyers. People are going to go for whatever is cheapest, and this will be items without PBR.

[Maxxell]

@runlola_run24

Yes, items with PBR textures will have a different price floor than standard items to reflect their enhanced value for users.

Thanks for nothing. You dangled PBR in front of our faces for 2+ years only to waste everyone’s time with some nonsense like this which results in nobody actually caring about PBR, because now they need to spend more money.

Dead on arrival, like all new Roblox features!

[M4nele]

What is the point of making PBR accessories cost more (higher price floor)?

Something like this that is objectively better in every other way… is being discouraged, by design?

Look back at how bundles were first implemented (Free to upload, price floor of FREE).
That helped get bundles adapted very fast, whilst being a new thing.

I think that would be even more relevant now, considering the changes being so relatively minimal from now “legacy” accessories

[SP00KW4G3N (Spook)]

This is insane i was randomly thinking about pbr ugc too lol

[SpookyMeril (Meril)]

Agreed - This is a nice update, but I’m not sure if the average player who’s just looking for accessories would understand what PBR is or why its more expensive. They might just see a hat and wonder why it’s not at the hat price floor.

I want to get some PBR accessories to see how they’d do sales wise but I have a feeling only a select few people who know what PBR is would be interested in it.

[CrimoraDev (Crimora)]

LETS GO! Been waiting for this for a WHILE!!! Thank you all for the addition

[VAC9]

Can anyone share what the current price floor for PBR Accessory’s is? Thanks

[chesse20 (ChesseThe FluffyWasp)]

@runlola_run24

Are items with PBR subject to a different price floor?

• Yes, items with PBR textures will have a different price floor than standard items to reflect their enhanced value for users. Additionally, creators can increase their revenue share by pricing premium items such as those with PBR above the price floor.

This is just going to result in nobody wanting to buy PBR accessories. People do not want to buy items priced above the price floor already so having an increased price floor means that making PBR accessories will result in virtually no sales.