Roblox discontinues Connect video service as users migrate to Party Voice
The shutdown encompasses both consumer-facing tools and developer APIs, with the company asserting that players aged 13 and older favour voice-only interactions for private communication.
Roblox has officially discontinued Connect, its avatar-based video calling service that launched in 2023, alongside the associated developer-facing APIs. The platform attributes the decision to shifting user habits, stating that players aged 13 and older predominantly utilise the platform’s Party Voice feature for private communications rather than video interactions.
The shutdown affects both the consumer-facing feature and the underlying code available to developers. In a statement to The Verge, Roblox spokesperson Angela Allison confirmed the immediate cessation of the service. "Roblox Connect is being discontinued today, including both the developer-facing APIs and the Roblox Connect feature itself," Allison said. She noted that users aged 13 and up predominantly use the more recent Party Voice feature to make private voice calls with Trusted Friends on the platform.
Connect allowed users to video chat using avatars that mimicked real-life movements within shared virtual environments. This functionality enabled users to move around and interact visually during calls. However, the company indicates that the utility of this feature has been superseded by voice-only alternatives, which require age verification for users aged 13 and older.
Internal communications from the company suggest a strategic pivot toward voice capabilities. A Roblox staffer previously posted that Party Voice "handles private voice chat in a way that’s more capable and better suited to how players use Roblox today." This assertion frames the voice feature as technically superior for current user behaviours, although such claims remain subjective corporate evaluations rather than independent technical audits.
When Connect was initially announced, Roblox indicated an intention to open source the feature. It remains unconfirmed whether this commitment was fulfilled prior to the current shutdown. The company has not provided further details on the status of the codebase or any potential archival of the open-source materials.
