The gaming and entertainment worlds are about to be brought closer by Jason Kilar, the former CEO of WarnerMedia, who has now taken a seat at the big table of Roblox, joining its board of directors.
The 52-year-old American isn’t just any executive. With a resume boasting leadership roles in entertainment giants like WarnerMedia and groundbreaking platforms like Hulu, his entry into Roblox’s boardroom is a game-changer, to say the least.
Roblox is known by many as a platform where creativity knows no bounds and where players can craft their own worlds, stories, and adventures.
Now that Kilar is on board, could Roblox be eyeing the broader horizons of general entertainment? Given Kilar’s history in the media and entertainment sectors, it’s not a wild guess.
David Baszucki, the chairman and CEO of Roblox, couldn’t hide his excitement in his statement, affirming:
Jason Kilar is a well-respected leader in the entertainment and media industry, and his experience in the space is of value to the Board as Roblox continues to scale globally.
Kilar responded with anticipation, stating:
I am honored to join Roblox, a company I have long admired and cheered from afar as they leaned into the future. Roblox is changing the way people come together and changing how creators can create delightful experiences for them. I am excited to join the board and do all I can to help bring Roblox’s vision to life.
So, what does this mean for Roblox’s future? The platform has been making waves, not just among kids but also among adults. The most recent data suggests that about 40% of its daily active user base is over 17 years old. It’s planning to introduce avatar-based voice calls and a vision to see adults form real-life relationships through Roblox, the platform’s ambitions are clear. They’re not just playing games; they’re playing the long game.
That being said, Kilar, like any leader, has his share of imperfections. His tenure at the helm of Warner Media wasn’t the smoothest. Guiding the company through the tumultuous pandemic era, Kilar’s name is associated with the decision to simultaneously release films in 2021 on Warner Bros.’ streaming platform, HBO Max, alongside their theatrical premieres.
This strategy drew widespread criticism within the film industry, with notable figures like Christopher Nolan taking a stand. In fact, Nolan, who had maintained a fruitful collaboration with Warner Bros. spanning over two decades, ultimately parted ways with the studio as a result of this decision.
One can only hope that Kilar won’t repeat the same mistakes in his role at Roblox, as the gaming community tends to be considerably less forgiving.
Speaking of Roblox, the online gaming platform is gearing up for its big debut on both PlayStation consoles and the Meta Quest VR headsets next month.
