What we want to achieve: Increased transparency and communication from Roblox regarding game visibility and potential shadow banning practices.
The issue: Many developers have expressed concerns about a lack of transparency in how their games appear on the Roblox platform. Specifically, there are worries about the possibility of shadow banning , where games become less discoverable through search and recommendations without any official notification or explanation. This lack of awareness creates a frustrating environment for developers who are unable to understand or address potential issues affecting their game’s success.
Evidence and anecdotes: While Roblox hasn’t officially acknowledged shadow banning, numerous developers have reported:
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Sudden and significant drops in player traffic, often coinciding with a disappearance from search results or recommendations. My game (Tosca Island) doesn’t even appear when you search “Tosca Island”. It’s officially shadow banned.
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Difficulty finding their games even when searching for relevant keywords.
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Discrepancies between how their game should rank based on engagement and its actual placement in search and recommendations.
Solutions and discussion points: To address these concerns and foster a healthy development community, we urge Roblox to:
-Clearly define their criteria for affecting game visibility: What factors influence search rankings and recommendations? How are decisions made about displaying specific games?
-Implement a communication channel: Provide a system for developers to inquire about their game’s visibility and receive feedback or explanations for any potential issues.
-Consider an appeal process: Allow developers to challenge decisions that negatively impact their game’s discoverability.
Call to action: We encourage all developers who have experienced similar concerns to share their stories and any relevant data they may have. By coming together and sharing our experiences, we can raise awareness and potentially encourage positive changes on the platform.
By working together, we can advocate for greater transparency and support for all Roblox developers.
Thank you!