MCP screen_capture omits BillboardGui, default ProximityPrompt, and Roblox top-bar UI during Play mode

Bug Reports Studio Bugs
1

When using Roblox Studio’s built-in MCP server during Play mode, the screen_capture tool omits a visible BillboardGui, default-style ProximityPrompt, and Roblox built-in top-bar UI from the returned image.

I reproduced this consistently in a new place created from the standard Baseplate template. No custom scripts or gameplay systems are required.

Reproduction steps

  1. Create a new place using the Baseplate template.

  2. Insert an anchored Part into Workspace.

  3. Add a BillboardGui under the Part with:

    • Enabled = true
    • AlwaysOnTop = true
    • Size approximately 220 × 74 pixels

  4. Add a black Frame filling the BillboardGui.

  5. Add a visible TextLabel displaying:

    BILLBOARD TEST

  6. Insert a second anchored Part into Workspace.

  7. Add a default-style ProximityPrompt under the second Part with:

    • Enabled = true
    • Style = Default
    • KeyboardKeyCode = E
    • ActionText = Prompt test
    • ObjectText = TEST OBJECT
    • MaxActivationDistance = 10
    • RequiresLineOfSight = false

  8. Place both Parts near the SpawnLocation.

  9. Enable Studio as an MCP server and connect an MCP client. I used the ChatGPT desktop app in Codex mode.

  10. Enter Play mode.

  11. Confirm that the Roblox built-in top bar is visible in the actual Studio viewport, including the Roblox menu button and adjacent controls.

  12. Face the BillboardGui Part and confirm that its black background and BILLBOARD TEST text are visible.

  13. Walk within range of the ProximityPrompt Part and confirm that the following are visible:

  • The E key graphic
  • Prompt test
  • TEST OBJECT

  1. Keep the player and camera stationary.

  2. Call the Studio MCP screen_capture tool.

  3. Inspect the returned MCP image.

Actual behavior

The MCP image omits the complete BillboardGui, including:

  • Its black rectangular background
  • The BILLBOARD TEST text

The MCP image also omits the complete default ProximityPrompt interface, including:

  • The E key graphic
  • The ActionText (Prompt test)
  • The ObjectText (TEST OBJECT)

The Roblox built-in top bar is also omitted, including the Roblox menu button and adjacent top-bar controls that are visible in the actual Studio viewport.

During my isolated ProximityPrompt test, the player was manually positioned 5.41 studs from the Part. The prompt was visible in the actual Studio viewport, and the player and camera remained stationary for three seconds before the MCP capture.

The live DataModel confirmed that the BillboardGui and ProximityPrompt were enabled and correctly configured.

The issue reproduces in a standard Baseplate place with only two Parts and their UI instances added. No custom scripts are necessary.

I previously observed the same behavior in a separate project after restarting Roblox Studio and the MCP client.

Evidence

Image 1 — Actual Studio viewport

The BillboardGui, default ProximityPrompt, and Roblox built-in top bar are visible.

image
image1920×670 53.2 KB

Image 2 — MCP screen_capture result

The BillboardGui, default ProximityPrompt, and Roblox built-in top bar are absent.

image
image1920×668 40.6 KB

Beta Features enabled

  • glTF Export
  • Improved Studio Solid Modeling Controls
  • Live Animation Creator
  • Segment by Parts

Expected behavior

The image returned by Studio MCP screen_capture should match the Play-mode viewport rendered in Roblox Studio, including:

  • The visible BillboardGui background and text
  • The complete default ProximityPrompt interface
  • The visible Roblox built-in top-bar controls

A private message is associated with this bug report

2

Update: ScreenGui can also be omitted intermittently

I have now directly confirmed two cases where MCP screen_capture omitted my game’s runtime HUD even though the HUD was still visible in the unchanged Roblox Studio viewport.

In both cases:

  1. MCP captured the viewport without the HUD.
  2. Codex immediately stopped without taking another capture or changing the Play state.
  3. I inspected the exact Studio viewport left open.
  4. The complete HUD was still visible in Studio.

This differs from the original issue:

  • BillboardGui, default ProximityPrompt, and Roblox top-bar UI have been omitted consistently.
  • The runtime ScreenGui HUD is only omitted occasionally. Most MCP captures include it normally.

An earlier controlled test produced 11 captures: 10 showed the HUD and 1 omitted it. That omitted capture was not checked immediately in the live viewport. The two newer occurrences were checked immediately and confirm that the MCP image can differ from what is visibly rendered in Studio.

No alternate screenshot method was used, and I have not identified a cause.