Roblox to feature "Spongebob Squarepants" game for series' 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years ago, Spongebob Squarepants first entered homes on Nickelodeon. Ever since, it has been considered one of the most popular cartoon series, generating a media franchise, becoming the highest-rated Nickelodeon series, and is considered, "the most profitable property for Paramount Consumer Products.

As of 2019, it was able to generate over $13 billion in merchandising revenue. The series has inspired three feature films, two spin-off series, with additional films and spin-offs planned. 

During those 25 years, another franchise has become popular in the world of gaming. Roblox, which came out in 2006, has become one of the most popular “virtual playgrounds” out there.

Roblox, the gaming platform that allows users to, “play dozens of user-created games or create games through Roblox Studio,” is crossing paths with the famed yellow sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea. 

Paramount Games Studio has united with Gamefan in a partnership that will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spongebob Squarepants with a new “Spongebob Simulator” game that will be available to the over 70 million users on Roblox, beginning January 26. 

The Senior Vice President of games and emerging media at Paramount, Doug Rosen, spoke highly of the partnership. Rosen explained that this partnership focuses on, “Deepening the connection with fans of our hit franchises through interactive and immersive experiences [which is a] key facet of our long-term gaming strategy.” 

In the game, players will be able to both unlock and collect “mini buddies” in the Bikini Bottom universe. These buddies are based on some of the supporting characters on the show, including snails, jellyfish, and miniature clone versions of the main characters. 

In addition, users will be able to transform into main characters including Squidward, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, and of course, Spongebob himself. 

Areas to explore include lands from the series, such as Kelp Forest, Conch Street, and Goo Lagoon. 

“We’re excited to let fans step into Bikini Bottom and participate in the universe in a completely new way, and Gamefam’s expertise in creating and managing high-quality and engaging Roblox worlds makes them the ideal partner for us to expand into new horizons,” Rosen continued to explain. 

While Spongebob is no stranger to the world of gaming, with the franchise having previously starred in games available for platforms such Windows and MacOS, PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, Android, and iOS, this is the first time Spongebob has officially crossed over with the world of Roblox. 

The Chief Business Officer at Gamefam, Ricardo Briceno, stated that, "Gamefam’s ultimate goal is to bring joy to players, and through this amazing partnership with the Paramount team, we turned one of the most beloved animated franchises into one of the most visually stunning games ever released on Roblox."

"Millions of existing and new SpongeBob SquarePants fans will be able to actively immerse themselves in Bikini Bottom like never before.”

Paramount previously worked with GameFam on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game on Roblox, titled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Tycoon” in support of the 2023 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

The game will be available free of charge on most devices and platforms.

With a franchise as popular as Spongebob and a world of gaming as popular as Roblox, it is definitely a winning combination to see the two in a partnership that can appeal to mass audiences of all ages.