Beyond The Blox

With recent dissatisfaction around Roblox's chat and safety changes, Adam and Fedor explore if alternatives like Fortnite's UEFN or Polytoria could ever take its crown. They break down the "identity crisis" holding UEFN back and the chicken-and-egg problem facing smaller nostalgic platforms.

Episode 19

Sources:
- Fortnite Going All-In on UGC but Chasing Roblox: https://www.platformaeronaut.com/p/fortnite-going-all-in-on-ugc-but
- Unreal Engine GDC 2025 Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF1Q7FDBfGw
- Polytoria: https://polytoria.com/home
- Polytoria Documentation: https://docs.polytoria.com/
- Reddit: Why Polytoria (and every other Roblox clone) is doomed to fail: https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/1qw67t6/why_polytoria_and_every_other_roblox_clone_is/

Hosts:
- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam
- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly
----------------------------
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.
Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk
Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.
----------------------------
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(01:29) Exploring UEFN as an Alternative
(08:08) Fortnite's Identity Crisis
(15:45) Discovery Problems on UEFN
(23:43) Fortnite vs Roblox by the Numbers
(27:13) Polytoria: The Hobbyist Alternative
(34:45) The Cost of Running a UGC Platform
(41:39) Will AAA Studios Build a Competitor?
(47:07) Outro

Roblox is changing how physics work with Server Authority. We built billiards and bowling demos to test if this new rollback netcode is ready to replace client-sided simulation for competitive games.

Episode 18

Sources:
- Server Authority Overview (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/projects/server-authority
- Server Authority Advanced Techniques (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/projects/server-authority/techniques
- Server Authority: How to Begin? (Community Guide) - https://devforum.roblox.com/t/server-authority-how-to-begin/4139185
- Input Action System (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/input/input-action-system
- BindToSimulation API Reference (Roblox Documentation) - https://create.roblox.com/docs/reference/engine/classes/RunService#BindToSimulation

Hosts:
- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam
- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly
- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile
----------------------------
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.
Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk
Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.
----------------------------
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(00:35) What is Server Authority?
(03:52) Prerequisites and Settings
(07:54) How Rollback Netcode Works
(15:07) Rough Demo: Server Authority in Action
(24:09) BindToSimulation & Managing State
(35:34) Migrating 'The Lanes' to Server Authority
(46:02) The Impact on Competitive Game Design
(53:13) The Future of Roblox Scripting
(01:03:09) Outro

Adam dives into his first-ever game jam experience at Roblox's 2026 Developer Challenge. From prepping five game ideas to building a multiplayer bomb-battle maze in 72 hours, he breaks down the strategy, the tools, and the lessons every Roblox developer can take away.

Episode 17

Sources:
- Space Bombs (Game Jam Submission): https://www.roblox.com/games/97442218073300/Space-Bombs
- Roblox Developer Challenge 2026 ("First Contact"): https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-developer-challenge-2026/4274705
- Roblox Developer Challenge 2025 ("Break the System"): https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-developer-challenge-2025/3389448/1012

Hosts:
- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam
- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile
----------------------------
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.
Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk
Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.
----------------------------
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(00:58) The Roblox Developer Challenge 2026
(05:40) Choosing Which Categories to Target
(12:13) Brainstorming Five Game Ideas
(19:55) Planning & Organizing 72 Hours
(25:13) Adapting to the "First Contact" Theme
(33:00) Tech Stack & AI Tools
(45:11) Why Every Developer Should Enter a Game Jam
(52:42) Outro

This week we discuss the controversial removal of classic faces, the rollout of 4K textures, and speak to Toby Johnson (OverheadWires) about building high-fidelity experiences like Croydon: London Bus Simulator.

Episode 16

Sources:
- New Chat APIs: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/new-chat-apis-teleport-users-who-can-chat-together/4337233
- 4k Texture Rendering: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/4k-texture-rendering/4316229
- Completing the Dynamic Head Migration: https://devforum.roblox.com/t/completing-the-dynamic-head-migration/4301387
- Q4 2025 Report: https://ir.roblox.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx

Hosts:
- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam
- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly
- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile
----------------------------
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.
Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk
Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.
----------------------------
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(00:42) Dynamic Heads Controversy
(08:11) Interview with Toby (OverheadWires)
(12:03) 4K Textures & Visual Fidelity
(19:53) Roblox Letter to Shareholders
(25:02) Age Group Matchmaking API
(31:48) Outro

From creating game icons at 11 years old to producing content for Elton John's farewell concert, Nate Spell's journey building Barrier Four shows what's possible when you turn passion into business.

Barrier Four: https://barrierfour.us/
Nate Spell: https://x.com/cantfindshirt

Episode 15

Sources:
- STAR interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QczUuAkLej8
- Beast Games on Roblox trailer: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/spelled_robloxtrailer-robloxmarketing-gametrailers-activity-7276652933948063745-ZvXe/
- Them Magazines trailer: https://x.com/cantfindshirt/status/1625528901983240192
- Elton John concert: https://x.com/cantfindshirt/status/1595838994570412037
- Brands In Play interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwePdfZi8oc
- Emergency Response Liberty County game trailer: https://x.com/cantfindshirt/status/1341921420570460161
- Kids Media Club Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce4qzW29pLE

Hosts:
- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam
- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly
- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile
----------------------------
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.
Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.uk
Beyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.
----------------------------
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(00:52) What is Barrier Four?
(04:04) The story of HoosierDaddy22
(07:38) Early ventures: Magazines and coding academies
(16:00) Filming for local businesses
(20:15) The reality of Roblox entrepreneurship
(30:19) Creating "Roadblocks" and game trailers
(37:15) Hiring for culture over skill
(41:15) Elton John: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
(46:12) Outro