OBSERVATION from OP: This topic specifically addresses Classic Heads. If you’re looking to support a feature request related to Classic Faces, I recommend checking out the one I created earlier: Classic Faces Should Return on Sale. Additionally, some information in this post is sourced from the Roblox Wiki Fandom website. Please keep in mind that these details may not be 100% accurate, so I encourage you to take them with a grain of salt. I appreciate your understanding!
Roblox has a long history of evolution, beginning in 1989 as “Interactive Physics”, a 2D educational software developed by David Baszucki and Gregory Baszucki under the American company (focused on educational physics and mechanical simulation) “Knowledge Revolution” (later called “MSC.Working Knowledge”). This software helped students learn physics through simulations, laying the foundation for future advancements in physics-based engines.
Years later (approximately 14 years), in 2003, David and Erik Cassel, a senior employee at the company, set out to create a more advanced physics-based platform. Their early project, “GoBlocks”, was later renamed “DynaBlocks” before finally becoming “Roblox” in 2004, a name inspired by the combination of “robots” and “blocks.” After years of development and testing, Roblox officially launched in 2006, offering players multiple experiences, where they could create, play, socialize, and, another factor that is still available, customize your avatar in many ways:
Speaking of avatar customization, when analyzing every avatar shown in the GIF above, they all wear different faces, hats, shirts, and pants. Still, between these, there is another aspect that makes them unique, “classic heads”!
Classic heads are different meshes that you can change based on one of the body parts of your Roblox avatar, being, of course, the head! Originally, avatars had simple oversized spheres for heads. However, with Roblox’s official launch, head shapes became more defined, taking inspiration from popular digital toys such as LEGO (for example). In December 2008, Roblox expanded its avatar customization options by introducing 13 unique classic heads:
- Barrel
- Blockhead
- Cool Thing
- Cylinder Madness
- Eraser Head
- Flat Top
- Hex
- Octoblox
- Perfection
- Roll
- Roundy
- ROX BOX
- Trim
Following up to next year, in 2009, three final heads were added: Diamond, Fat Head, and Peabrain – Each having a different value of Robux (the platform currency):
Despite their uniqueness, most classic heads were unexpectedly removed from sale in 2017 without any public explanation. Today, when searching the Marketplace (formerly known as the “Avatar Shop” and “Catalog”), players will find that only a handful of head options remain available.
As a Roblox developer, on the player side, it is currently too hard to forget how unfairly these meshes went off-sale. The removal significantly limited avatar customization, leaving players with fewer choices compared to the variety once available. The viable solution that we can only think of, according to most users’ opinions, is a comeback.
If Roblox is able to address this issue, it would improve my experience because not only would it increase the economy for the platform, but it would also provide the chance for users to experience what it’s like to wear different heads that are a part of “Classic Roblox.”
Additionally, many classic heads had their exclusive accessories, which are still available for purchase. For example, Peabrain had its accessory called the “Tiny Top Hat,” but since Peabrain is off-sale, players who own the hat can no longer complete the look. Similarly, Blockhead has an accessory called the “Blockhead Baseball Cap,” while the head itself remains free. Bringing back these heads would allow players to properly use these accessories, enhancing avatar customization further.
Moreover, reintroducing these heads would open opportunities for UGC creators to design new accessories tailored for them, fostering creativity and expanding the market for avatar customization.
Bringing back Classic Heads as permanent catalog listings would allow newer players to enjoy the same level of customization that early users once had. It would also serve as a way to experience Roblox’s history, reconnecting players with a nostalgic part of the platform’s evolution.
