Roblox tightens chat rules, mandates migration by May 2027

Roblox announced a new specification called Platform-integrated chat on the Roblox Developer Forum on October 22 (Japan time), setting out rules that will eventually require all in-game chat to run through the platform's TextChatService (TCS). According to gamebusiness.jp, the change means developers will no longer be able to directly retrieve chat content, and custom chat screens and commands must be moved to Roblox's standard features.

The company reiterated that all user-to-user chat must go through TextChatService, including conversations held through in-game signboards, bulletin boards or trading systems. Non-chat features that allow users to freely enter text must take measures such as a minimum one-minute interval between posts and updates so they cannot be used for conversation. Repeated violations may lead to a game being suspended or deleted.

Custom chat screens are to be migrated to Roblox's TextChannelWindow, though developers can still customize layout, size and color. Custom commands that read chat messages must move to the standard TextChatCommand feature.

Timeline for developers

Roblox is asking developers to test early. All games will have the new specification automatically enabled in February 2027, with an opt-out available at that stage. Migration becomes mandatory in May 2027, after which some APIs used by legacy custom chat features will be deprecated.

Games that already use Roblox's standard chat features without customization require no action from developers. The requirement for chat to pass through TextChatService was already an existing rule, which Roblox is re-confirming in this announcement.