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Roblox China wasonce full of hope . Since its localized platform , which is a joint effort with Tencent , suddenly halted procedure nearly two old age ago , the company has been quiet about its standing in the world ’s second - biggest gaming market . Until now .
TechCrunch has exclusively learned that Roblox China , also call LuoBu ( 罗布乐思 ) , lead up a round of layoff in October . A spokesperson for Roblox confirmed to TechCrunch that 15 roles , which consist a “ humble act ” of Roblox China ’s teams in the U.S. and its headquarters in Shenzhen , were touch .
The decision was made after an “ evaluation of the operating structure in musical accompaniment of LuoBu , ” said the representative . “ Those employees whose roles were impacted have been inform . These actions are specific to LuoBu and its unequalled commercial enterprise and operational needs . No other squad within LuoBu or at Roblox are impact . ”
Roblox gave no further information on which theatrical role were cut . Roblox China ’s head count is in the range of “ 100 - 499 ” according to its itemization on Boss Zhipin , a major recruiting site in China .
The new layoff arrived not long after Roblox’ssignificant reduction in its talent attainment squad , which marked the children - oriented gaming colossus ’s shift of focus from expansion to its bottom line .
TechCrunch has also reached out to Tencent , which execute the LuoBu joint venture with Roblox , for remark on the layoff .
In 2019 , Tencent and Robloxestablished a joint venture in Chinain which Roblox would obtain a 51 % verify wager , a rarefied instance where the foreign entity was granted the majority portion . The destination was to construct a localized reading of Roblox ’s gambling platform , which is known for its user - programmed games , while Tencent would put up the necessary gaming license for its foreign partner to operate in China .
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The challenge of running any program that thrives on substance abuser - generated subject in China is to ensure the substance is in origin with Beijing ’s censorship rules andcross - border data regulations . Those stipulations can be nebulous and cumbersome . So when LuoBuLeSi , the Chinese version of Roblox , suddenly hesitate service in December 2021 , its well - informed users were n’t all that surprised .
Roblox was plainspoken about its unique challenge in China at the time : “ We always sleep with that build a compelling platform in China is an iterative physical process , and we are thankful for the support of LuoBuLeSi users and our world-wide developer biotic community . ”
There is no sign that Roblox is apply up on its China dream . comment on the raw layoff , its spokesperson enounce : “ We remain attached to our foresightful - terminal figure imagination and design for the LuoBu platform in China . ”
Roblox is n’t the only one facing hurdles in the Chinese play market place . Blizzard Activision , the California - found gaming publisher behind World of Warcraft and Overwatch , began to cast back surgical procedure in China in January after its14 - twelvemonth license with its local cooperator NetEase expired . At the time , the gaming giant articulate it would be looking for a new publishing partner .
Roblox hesitate service in China as it takes ‘ important transitory action ’
