With recent dissatisfaction around Roblox's chat and safety changes, Adam and Fedor explore if alternatives like Fortnite's UEFN or Polytoria could ever take its crown. They break down the "identity crisis" holding UEFN back and the chicken-and-egg problem facing smaller nostalgic platforms.

Episode 19

Sources:

- Fortnite Going All-In on UGC but Chasing Roblox: https://www.platformaeronaut.com/p/fortnite-going-all-in-on-ugc-but

- Unreal Engine GDC 2025 Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF1Q7FDBfGw

- Polytoria: https://polytoria.com/home

- Polytoria Documentation: https://docs.polytoria.com/

- Reddit: Why Polytoria (and every other Roblox clone) is doomed to fail: https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/1qw67t6/why_polytoria_and_every_other_roblox_clone_is/

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:29) Exploring UEFN as an Alternative

(08:08) Fortnite's Identity Crisis

(15:45) Discovery Problems on UEFN

(23:43) Fortnite vs Roblox by the Numbers

(27:13) Polytoria: The Hobbyist Alternative

(34:45) The Cost of Running a UGC Platform

(41:39) Will AAA Studios Build a Competitor?

(47:07) Outro

Roblox is changing how physics work with Server Authority. We built billiards and bowling demos to test if this new rollback netcode is ready to replace client-sided simulation for competitive games.

Episode 18

Sources:

- Server Authority Overview (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/projects/server-authority

- Server Authority Advanced Techniques (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/projects/server-authority/techniques

- Server Authority: How to Begin? (Community Guide) - https://devforum.roblox.com/t/server-authority-how-to-begin/4139185

- Input Action System (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/input/input-action-system

- BindToSimulation API Reference (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/RunService#BindToSimulation

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:35) What is Server Authority?

(03:52) Prerequisites and Settings

(07:54) How Rollback Netcode Works

(15:07) Rough Demo: Server Authority in Action

(24:09) BindToSimulation & Managing State

(35:34) Migrating 'The Lanes' to Server Authority

(46:02) The Impact on Competitive Game Design

(53:13) The Future of Roblox Scripting

(01:03:09) Outro

Adam dives into his first-ever game jam experience at Roblox's 2026 Developer Challenge. From prepping five game ideas to building a multiplayer bomb-battle maze in 72 hours, he breaks down the strategy, the tools, and the lessons every Roblox developer can take away.

Episode 17

Sources:

- Space Bombs (Game Jam Submission): https://www.roblox.com/games/97442218073300/Space-Bombs

- Roblox Developer Challenge 2026 ("First Contact"): https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-developer-challenge-2026/4274705

- Roblox Developer Challenge 2025 ("Break the System"): https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-developer-challenge-2025/3389448/1012

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:58) The Roblox Developer Challenge 2026

(05:40) Choosing Which Categories to Target

(12:13) Brainstorming Five Game Ideas

(19:55) Planning & Organizing 72 Hours

(25:13) Adapting to the "First Contact" Theme

(33:00) Tech Stack & AI Tools

(45:11) Why Every Developer Should Enter a Game Jam

(52:42) Outro

This week we discuss the controversial removal of classic faces, the rollout of 4K textures, and speak to Toby Johnson (OverheadWires) about building high-fidelity experiences like Croydon: London Bus Simulator.

Episode 16

Sources:

- New Chat APIs: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-chat-apis-teleport-users-who-can-chat-together/4337233

- 4k Texture Rendering: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/4k-texture-rendering/4316229

- Completing the Dynamic Head Migration: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/completing-the-dynamic-head-migration/4301387

- Q4 2025 Report: https://ir.roblox.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:42) Dynamic Heads Controversy

(08:11) Interview with Toby (OverheadWires)

(12:03) 4K Textures & Visual Fidelity

(19:53) Roblox Letter to Shareholders

(25:02) Age Group Matchmaking API

(31:48) Outro

From creating game icons at 11 years old to producing content for Elton John's farewell concert, Nate Spell's journey building Barrier Four shows what's possible when you turn passion into business.

Barrier Four: https://barrierfour.us/

Nate Spell: https://x.com/cantfindshirt

Episode 15

Sources:

- STAR interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QczUuAkLej8

- Beast Games on Roblox trailer: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/spelled_robloxtrailer-robloxmarketing-gametrailers-activity-7276652933948063745-ZvXe/

- Them Magazines trailer: https://x.com/cantfindshirt/status/1625528901983240192

- Elton John concert: https://x.com/cantfindshirt/status/1595838994570412037

- Brands In Play interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwePdfZi8oc

- Emergency Response Liberty County game trailer: https://x.com/cantfindshirt/status/1341921420570460161

- Kids Media Club Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce4qzW29pLE

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:52) What is Barrier Four?

(04:04) The story of HoosierDaddy22

(07:38) Early ventures: Magazines and coding academies

(16:00) Filming for local businesses

(20:15) The reality of Roblox entrepreneurship

(30:19) Creating "Roadblocks" and game trailers

(37:15) Hiring for culture over skill

(41:15) Elton John: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

(46:12) Outro

We got the chance to interview Roblox CEO, Dave Baszucki, to find out where the platform is heading.

Can Roblox simulate the real world? CEO Dave Baszucki reveals the "Impossible Spec" that the platform's leadership aim for: 10,000 photorealistic players in one world, and an AI "Magic Wand" that builds for you.

The platform may even come full circle, back to its "builder" roots, as creation is democratised and generative AI lowers the barrier to entry to anyone with an idea.

Episode 14

Sources:

- Metaverse vision - https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2021/09/future-communication-metaverse

- Grow a Garden - https://www.roblox.com/games/126884695634066/Grow-a-Garden

- Steal a Brainrot - https://www.roblox.com/games/109983668079237/Steal-a-Brainrot

- Roblox Creator Roadmap - https://create.roblox.com/roadmap

- Roblox Assistant - https://create.roblox.com/docs/assistant

- Introducing Roblox Cube: Our Core Generative AI System for 3D and 4D - https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/03/introducing-roblox-cube

- Roblox's Road to 3D Generative AI - https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2024/06/robloxs-road-to-4d-generative-ai

- (Interview) Dave Baszucki, Founder and CEO of Roblox: Trust Your Gut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm1vf3AQhAM

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

----------------------------

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:36) 20 years of Roblox: From business plan to "Metaverse"

(03:56) The power of platform growth & creator feedback

(07:51) Balancing Innovation: The Risk of Going Mobile

(11:39) Beyond Genres: Expanding the Global Gaming Market

(14:13) Simulating Reality: Emergent Gameplay & "Real" Objects

(18:01) Generative AI: The "Magic Wand" & Native NPCs

(24:13) Democratizing Creation: Every Experience is a Studio

(30:22) Professional Tools for Everyone: Simplicity & Performance

(33:04) Trusting Your Intuition: Lessons from Explorers

(36:23) Outro

Fedor presents a simple guide to "AI" and how the term has evolved in gaming, discussing where and why Roblox is investing in many different types of AI models: from basic machine learning to LLMs; safety nets to generative AI tools.

Join the GEEIQ Integration Network for free today (Ad):

https://geeiq.com/developers/?afmc=lastlevel

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(04:59) Safety & Moderation

(14:50) The Algorithm

(24:39) GEEIQ Integration Network for Roblox Creators (ad)

(25:28) Generative AI & Code Assist

(31:09) Material & Image Generation

(38:53) Cube AI

(44:54) Real-Time Dreaming

(50:32) Will AI Replace Creators?

(58:45) Outro

Episode 13

Sources:

- Roblox Creator Roadmap: https://create.roblox.com/roadmap

- Roblox AI-powered moderation: https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/07/roblox-ai-moderation-massive-scale

- Roblox Sentinel, open-sourced risk detection model: https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/08/open-sourcing-roblox-sentinel-preemptive-risk-detection

- Roblox Cube, 3D and 4D generative model: https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/03/introducing-roblox-cube

- Roblox's real-time dreaming: https://x.com/Roblox/status/2010766064708169738/video/1

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.

Roblox creators Adam and Fedor break down their predictions for the Roblox platform in 2026...

Join the GEEIQ Integration Network for free today (Ad): https://geeiq.com/developers/?afmc=lastlevel

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:10) 1. Developer Involvement in Moderation

(11:40) GEEIQ Integration Network for Roblox Creators (ad)

(12:50) 2. Simulating the Real World

(24:58) 3. Changes to the Homepage

(36:15) 4. Esports Goes Big in 2026

(41:06) 5. Platforms Follow Roblox's Lead on Safety

(45:59) 6. New CCU Records in 2026?

(54:58) Outro

Episode 12

Sources:

Roblox Creator Roadmap

- https://create.roblox.com/roadmap

4k textures example

- https://x.com/kripytic/status/1985571621554254177/video/1

Realistic showcase examples

- https://x.com/ArtBlox_406/status/1814371443917889922- https://www.roblox.com/games/7721370704/Druids-Sanctuary-Showcase

Roblox's SLIM LoD system

- https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/12/introducing-roblox-slim-scalable-lightweight-interactive-models

Hosts:

- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam

- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly

----------------------------

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.

Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk

Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.