Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization and Description of Business —Roblox Corporation, or the Company, was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware in March 2004. The Company operates a human co-experience platform, or the Platform, or Roblox Platform, where users interact with each other to explore and develop immersive, user-generated, 3D experiences. Upon signing up for Roblox, a user personalizes their unique Roblox identity, or avatar. Users are then free to immerse themselves in experiences on Roblox and can acquire experience-specific enhancements or avatar items in the Company’s Avatar Marketplace using the virtual currency, or Robux. Any user can be a developer or creator on the Company’s platform using Roblox’s studio of software tools. Developers build the experiences that are published on Roblox and can earn Robux through microtransactions in their experiences, through engagement-based payouts, and by selling virtual items in the Roblox virtual economy . Direct Listing —On March 10, 2021, the Company completed a direct listing of its Class A common stock (“Direct Listing”) on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The Company incurred fees primarily related to financial advisory service, audit and legal expenses, in connection with the Direct Listing and recorded general and administrative expenses of $50.7 million during the first quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Immediately prior to the Direct Listing, all shares of outstanding convertible preferred stock were converted into an equivalent number of shares of Class A common stock. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Fiscal Year —The Company’s fiscal year ends on December 31. For example, references to fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 refer to the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively. Basis of Presentation —The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain prior period balances have been reclassified in the accompanying consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications are not material and had no effect on the prior year's net loss or accumulated deficit. Principles of Consolidation —The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and subsidiaries over which the Company has control. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The consolidated financial statements include 100% of the accounts of wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries, and the ownership interest of minority investors is recorded as noncontrolling interest. Use of Estimates —The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the estimated period of time the virtual items are available to the user and the estimated amount of consumable and durable virtual items purchased for which the Company lacks specific information that we use for revenue recognition, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, valuation of acquired goodwill and intangible assets, accrued liabilities (including accrued developer exchange fees), contingent liabilities, valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, stock-based compensation, the carrying value of operating lease right-of-use assets, evaluation of recoverability of long-lived assets and carrying value of goodwill. Management believes that the estimates, and judgments upon which they rely, are reasonable based upon information available to them at the time that these estimates and judgments are made. Actual results could differ from those estimates and any such differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, the Company’s consolidated financial statements will be affected. The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has created, and may continue to create, significant uncertainty in macroeconomic conditions. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or indirectly impact the global economy, the lasting social effects, and impact on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition will depend on future developments, such as COVID-19 vaccination rates and the availability of COVID-19 vaccines both globally and in the U.S., and the emergence of new strains of the virus, that are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted. As of the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements, the Company is not aware of any specific event of circumstance related to COVID-19 that would require it to update its estimates or judgments or adjust the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. As events continue to evolve and additional information becomes available, the Company’s estimates and assumptions may change materially in future periods. Foreign Currency Transactions — The functional currency of the Company’s international subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, with the exception of a Chinese subsidiary wholly owned by Roblox China Holding Corp., as discussed in Note 14, “Joint Venture” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at the period-end exchange rate. Revenues and expenses are translated using the average exchange rate for the period. The effects of foreign currency translation are included in stockholders’ deficit as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and periodic movements are summarized as a line item in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Stock Split —On January 31, 2020, the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment to its certificate of incorporation to effect a split of shares of the issued and outstanding common stock and convertible preferred stock at a 2-for-1 ratio. The stock split was approved by the Company’s stockholders and effected on January 31, 2020. All issued and outstanding shares of common stock and convertible preferred stock, dividend rates, conversion rates, options to purchase common stock, exercise prices, and the related per-share amounts contained in these consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to reflect these stock splits for all periods presented. Segments — The Company operates as a single operating and reportable segment, which is at the consolidated entity level. The chief operating decision maker or CODM of the Company is its CEO, who makes resource allocation decisions and assesses performance based on financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by disaggregated information of our revenue. Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition Policy In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, revenue is recognized when control of the service is transferred to the customer. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for these services. To achieve the core principle of this standard, the Company determines revenue recognition by: • identifying the contract, or contracts, with the customer; • identifying the performance obligations in the contract; • determining the transaction price; • allocating the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract; and • recognizing revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies performance obligations by transferring the promised services. The Company derives substantially all of its revenue from the sale of virtual items on the Roblox Platform. Roblox Platform The Company operates the Roblox Platform as live services that allow users to play and socialize with others for free. Within the experience, however, users can purchase virtual currency (Robux) to obtain virtual items to enhance their social experience. Proceeds from the sale of Robux are initially recorded in deferred revenue and recognized as revenues as a user purchases and uses virtual items. The Company’s identified performance obligation is to provide users with the ability to acquire, use, and hold virtual items on the Roblox Platform over the estimated period of time the virtual items are available to the user or until the virtual items are consumed. Users can purchase Robux, as one-time purchases or through monthly subscriptions via mobile payments, credit cards, or prepaid cards. Payments from users are non-refundable and relate to non-cancellable contracts for a fixed price that specify Company’s obligations. Revenue is recorded net of taxes, assessed by a government authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue transactions between the Company and its users, and estimated chargebacks. Such payments are initially recorded to deferred revenue. The satisfaction of Company’s performance obligation is dependent on the nature of the virtual item purchased and as a result, the Company categorizes its virtual items as either consumable or durable. • Consumable virtual items represent items that can be consumed by a specific user action. Common characteristics of consumable virtual items may include items that are no longer displayed on the user’s inventory after a short period of time or do not provide the user any continuing benefit following consumption. For the sale of consumable virtual items the Company recognizes revenue as the items are consumed. • Durable virtual items represent items which result in a persistent change to a users’ character or item set (e.g., virtual hat, pet, or house). These items are generally available to the customer to hold, use, or display for as long as they are on the Roblox Platform. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of durable virtual items ratably over the estimated period of time the items are available to the user which is estimated as the average lifetime of a paying user. To separately account for consumable and durable virtual items, the Company specifically identifies each purchase for the majority of virtual items purchased on the Roblox Platform. For the remaining population, the Company estimates the amount of consumable and durable virtual items purchased based on data from specifically identified purchases and the expected behavior of the users within similar experiences. The estimation of amount of consumable and durable virtual items purchased for the population of purchases not specifically identified, requires management’s judgement as it requires the Company to evaluate and estimate the expected behavior of users in the population using information from known purchases in similar experiences. The average lifetime of a paying user estimate is calculated based on historical monthly retention data for each user cohort to project future participation on the Roblox Platform and is currently estimated to be 23 months. Determining the estimated average lifetime of a paying user requires management’s judgment as it requires the Company to analyze the most recent trends in player cohort activity and other qualitative factors to estimate the average lifetime of a paying user. The Company also considers results from prior analyses in determining the estimated average lifetime of a paying user. The Company believes this estimate is the best representation of the average life of the durable virtual items. Principal Agent Considerations The Company evaluates the sales of Robux via third-party payment processors to determine whether its revenues should be reported gross or net of fees either retained by the payment processor or paid to the developers and creators (Developer Exchange Fees). The Company is the principal in the transaction with the end user as a result of controlling, hosting, and integrating the delivery of the virtual items to the end user. The Company records revenue gross as a principal and records fees paid to payment processors and Developer Exchange Fees as an expense. Other Revenue Other revenue primarily consists of revenue from advertising, licenses, and royalties. The Company recognizes revenue based on the performance obligations of the underlying agreements, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to. Refer to Note 2, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information, including disaggregation of revenue, contract balances, and changes in deferred revenue during the period. Cost of Revenue —Cost of revenue primarily consists of payment processing fees charged by various distribution channels. Deferred Cost of Revenue —The Company defers contract costs that are direct and incremental to obtaining user contracts (i.e., sale of Robux). Deferred cost of revenue primarily consists of payment processing fees charged by third-party payment processors. Payment processing fees for initial contracts are commensurate with subsequent sales, and as a result, are amortized over the estimated period of time the virtual items are available to the user on the Roblox Platform (based on the nature of the virtual item as either consumable or durable) in proportion to the revenue recognized. The Company classifies deferred cost of revenue as short-term or long-term based on when the Company expects to recognize the expense. Short-term and long-term deferred cost of revenue are included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Deferred cost of revenue are periodically reviewed for impairment. Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers —Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivables. Cash and cash equivalents are deposited with high quality financial institutions and may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. Management believes that the financial institutions that hold the Company’s deposits are financially credit worthy and, accordingly, minimal credit risk exists with respect to those balances. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and, therefore, bear minimal interest rate risk. The Company provides credit, in the normal course of business, to various customers, performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers, and maintains allowances for potential credit losses on customers’ accounts when deemed necessary. The Company has not experienced any material credit losses to date. The Company uses various distribution channels to collect and remit payments from users. As of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, two distribution channels accounted for 54%, 50%, and 56% of our accounts receivable, respectively. One distribution channel accounted for 19%, 25%, and 28%, of our accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. A second distribution channel accounted for 35%, 25%, and 28% of our accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. One distribution channel processed 35%, 35% and 30%, of our overall revenue transactions for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. A second distribution channel processed 19%, 19% and 18%, of our overall revenue transactions for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Fair Value Hierarchy —Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels, which are directly related to the amount of subjectivity, associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets or liabilities are as follows: Level 1 —Inputs that are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. Level 2 —Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life. Level 3 —Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities and which reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model. In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash —Cash and cash equivalents primarily consisted of cash in hand, money market instruments, and U.S. Treasuries with maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. Restricted cash consists of cash deposited with financial institutions as collateral for the Company’s obligations under its facility leases. These restricted cash balances have been excluded from our cash and cash equivalents balance and are classified as restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, there was no restricted cash balance. Short-Term Investments —The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates such determination at each balance sheet date based on their maturities and the Company’s reasonable expectation with regard to those securities (i.e., expectations of sales and redemptions). Based on our intentions regarding our short-term investments, all short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices for such securities, if available, or based on quoted market prices of financial instruments with similar characteristics. Unrealized gains and losses recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes. The Company periodically reviews whether its securities may be other-than-temporarily impaired, including whether or not (i) the Company has the intent to sell the security or (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery. If one of these factors is met, the Company will record an impairment loss associated with its impaired investment. Realized gains and losses and other-than-temporary impairments, if any, on available-for-sale securities are recognized upon sale and are included in other expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company had no short-term investments as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Accounts Receivable and Related Allowance — Accounts receivable represent amounts due to us based on contractual obligations with our customers. In cases where the Company is aware of circumstances that may impair a specific customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations, it records a specific allowance as a reduction to the accounts receivable balance to reduce it to its net realizable value. In addition, the Company holds a reserve for chargebacks based on historical data and current trends and projections. Specific allowances and chargeback reserves have not been material for any of the period presented. Property and Equipment—Net — Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is recorded on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The estimated useful life for each asset category is as follows: Property and Equipment Estimated Useful Life Servers and related equipment 5 years Computer hardware and software 2 - 5 years Furniture and fixtures 2 years Leasehold improvements Shorter of 10 years or life of lease Goodwill and Intangible Assets —Goodwill is not amortized but rather tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination and is allocated to reporting units expected to benefit from the business combination. The Company has determined that it has one operating segment and one reporting unit. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. If the Company determines that as a result of the qualitative assessment that it is more likely than not (i.e., greater than 50% likelihood) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the quantitative test is required or it can directly perform the quantitative analysis. Goodwill impairment is recognized when the quantitative assessment results in the carrying value exceeding the fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the carrying value exceeds the fair value. There were no impairment charges to goodwill during the periods presented. Intangible assets with finite lives are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of up to five years. Each period the Company evaluates the estimated remaining useful lives of its intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions —The Company applies a screen test to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets to determine whether a transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition or business combination. When the Company acquires a business, the purchase consideration is allocated to the tangible assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated respective fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The Company’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable, and as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. In addition, unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such estimates. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year following the acquisition date, if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the fair value of these assets and liabilities, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded within the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company accounts for a transaction as an asset acquisition pursuant to the provisions of ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets, or otherwise does not meet the definition of a business. Asset acquisition-related costs are capitalized as part of the asset or assets acquired. Software Development Costs —The Company incurs costs related to developing the Roblox Platform and related support systems. The Company capitalizes development costs when preliminary development efforts are successfully completed, management has authorized and committed project funding, and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used as intended. Development costs meeting the Company’s capitalization criteria were not material during the periods presented. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets— The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset to be held and used is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the estimated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. No impairment charges have been recorded during the periods presented. Developer Exchange Fees —The Company has established an incentive program for developers and creators to build and operate virtual worlds within the Roblox environment. Developers and creators may charge other users virtual currency to participate in their world. Under certain conditions as outlined in the Developer Exchange Program agreement with developers and creators, such as earning a minimum amount of 100,000 Robux, having a verified account, and an account in good standing; and in compliance with applicable law, these developers and creators can receive a cash payout based on the amount of accumulated earned Robux from other users. The Company records the expense and liability associated with this program on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and balance sheet, respectively. Infrastructure and Trust & Safety —Infrastructure and trust & safety consists primarily of expenses related to the operation of our data centers and technical infrastructure in order to deliver our platform to our users. Infrastructure expenses also include personnel costs and allocated overhead for employees and team members whose primary responsibilities relate to supporting our infrastructure and trust & safety initiatives. Research and Development — Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consist primarily of personnel costs and allocated overhead. Stock-Based Compensation — The Company measures and recognizes stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based awards, including stock options, RSAs, RSUs, and PSUs granted to employees, directors, and non-employees, and stock purchase rights granted under the 2020 ESPP to employees, based on the estimated grant date fair value of the awards. The fair value of each stock option granted and stock purchase right granted under the 2020 ESPP is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires certain subjective inputs and assumptions, including the fair value of the Company’s Class A common stock, the expected term, risk-free interest rates, expected stock price volatility, and expected dividend yield of our Class A common stock. The assumptions used to determine the fair value of the option awards represent management’s best estimates. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. These assumptions and estimates are as follows: • Fair value of Class A common stock— Prior to the Direct Listing, the fair value of the shares of Class A common stock underlying the stock options and RSUs has historically been determined by the Company’s board of directors along with management as there was no public market for the underlying common stock. The Company’s board of directors along with management determined the fair value of the Company’s common stock by considering a number of objective and subjective factors including: contemporaneous third-party valuations of its common stock, the valuation of comparable companies, sales of the Company’s common and convertible preferred stock to outside investors in arms-length transactions, the Company’s operating and financial performance, the lack of marketability, and the general and industry specific economic outlook, amongst other factors. After the completion of the Direct listing, the fair value of the Company’s Class A common stock is determined based on the NYSE closing price on the date of grant. • Expected term—The expected term represents the period stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term assumptions are determined based on the vesting terms, estimated exercise behavior, post-vesting cancellations and contractual lives of the awards. • Risk-free interest rates—The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yields in effect at the time of the grant of U.S. Treasury notes with terms approximately equal to the expected term of the award. • Expected stock price volatility— Prior to the Direct Listing, the Company used the historical volatility of the Class A common stock price of similar publicly-traded peer companies. After the completion of the Direct Listing the Company continues to use the historical volatility of the stock price of similar publicly traded peer companies since it has not established sufficient public trading history. • Expected dividend yield—The Company utilized a dividend yield of zero, as it had no history or plan of declaring dividends on its common stock. RSUs granted by the Company prior to March 2021, vest upon the satisfaction of both a service-based vesting condition, which is typically four years, and a liquidity event-related performance vesting condition. The liquidity event-related performance vesting condition was satisfied on the Effective Date, and the Company recorded a cumulative stock-based compensation expense as of the Direct Listing date for those RSUs for which the service-based vesting condition has been satisfied. Stock-based compensation related to the remaining service-based period after the liquidity event-related performance vesting condition was satisfied will be recorded over the remaining requisite service period using the accelerated attribution method. In February 2021, the leadership development and compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors granted the CEO a Long-Term Performance Award (“CEO Long-Term Performance Award”), an RSU award that includes a service and a market condition. The fair value of the CEO Long-Term Performance Award is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The fair value of the common stock underlying the award was determined by the Company’s board of directors along with management by considering a number of objective and subjective factors. The Company estimated the expected term based on the time period from the valuation date to the end of the performance period. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury notes. The expected volatility is derived from the historical stock volatility of selected peers over a period equivalent to the expected term of the CEO Long-Term Performance Award. The associated stock-based compensation is recorded over the derived service period, using the accelerated attribution method. If the stock price goals are met sooner than the derived service period, the Company will adjust the stock-based compensation expense to reflect the cumulative expense associated with the vested portion of the CEO Long-Term Performance Award. Provided that David Baszucki continues to be the CEO of the Company, stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the derived service period, regardless of whether the stock price goals are achieved. The Company records forfeitures when they occur for all stock-based awards. Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share —Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. The Company considers all series of its convertib |