The Physics Teacher's Tool That Became Roblox
He made software that let students play with physics. Kids built crazy things with it. So he gave them a whole world to build.
Most video games are built by big studios. Players just play.
David Baszucki had a different idea. What if the players built the games?
That idea became Roblox, where millions of young people create worlds, games and hangouts, and even earn money from them.
A science software pioneer
David Baszucki grew up loving engineering and computers. He studied engineering and computer science at Stanford University.
In 1989, he and his brother Greg started a company called Knowledge Revolution. It made Interactive Physics, software that let students build virtual experiments: ramps, cars, pulleys and crashes.
Something surprised him. Students did not just do the lessons. They built wild, creative contraptions and had fun smashing them.
In 1998, Knowledge Revolution was sold to MSC Software. David later worked as an angel investor.
Starting Roblox
In 2004, David teamed up with Erik Cassel, an engineer who had worked with him at Knowledge Revolution. They started building a platform where people could create their own 3D worlds using simple building blocks and physics.
Roblox launched in 2006.
A platform built by players
Roblox grew slowly at first, then very fast. Young creators built games like adventures, obstacle courses and role play worlds. Roblox gave them tools, and a way to earn money through its virtual currency, Robux.
In February 2013, Erik Cassel died of cancer. David continued building the company they started together.
During the pandemic, when kids were stuck at home, Roblox exploded. It became a place to play and meet friends.
On March 10, 2021, Roblox listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock jumped about 54 percent on day one.
The safety storm
Because so many Roblox players are children, keeping them safe became Roblox's most serious challenge.
By 2025 and 2026, Roblox faced more than 140 lawsuits in the United States claiming it did not do enough to protect children from predators. Several states investigated or sued. In November 2025, David faced strong criticism after a tense New York Times podcast interview about child safety.
Roblox responded with major changes. It began requiring facial age checks to use chat. In April 2026, it agreed to a $12.5 million settlement with Nevada and announced new age based accounts: Roblox Kids for ages 5 to 8 and Roblox Select for ages 9 to 15.
"When it comes to safety, we do the right thing, including proactive filtering, age checks, parental controls, and providing clear content ratings."
Where he is now
Today, David Baszucki is co-founder and CEO of Roblox. He says the company's future rests on safety, AI tools for creators, content and the creator economy.
Why the story matters
David Baszucki saw that kids do not just want to play. They want to build. He turned that into one of the biggest platforms for young creators in the world.
His story also shows that when you build for children, protecting them must come first, and that the public will hold you to that.
For young builders, the lesson is simple. Give people tools to create and they will surprise you. And the bigger your platform grows, the bigger your responsibility becomes.
He did not make the games. He made the game makers.
The Record
Studied: Engineering and computer science, Stanford University
Built: Knowledge Revolution (with Greg Baszucki), Roblox (with Erik Cassel)
Role: Co-founder and CEO of Roblox
Timeline
1989 Co-founds Knowledge Revolution.
1998 Sells Knowledge Revolution to MSC Software.
2004 Co-founds Roblox with Erik Cassel.
2006 Roblox launches.
2013 Co-founder Erik Cassel dies.
2021 Roblox lists on the NYSE.
2025 Faces heavy criticism and lawsuits over child safety. Rolls out facial age checks.
2026 Nevada settlement and new age based accounts.