In a twist that no one saw coming, the Roblox Developer Conference in San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center was thrown into chaos. Mikhail Olson, known in the Roblox community as Simbuilder, was arrested under some rather alarming circumstances.
If you’re thinking, “What could possibly go wrong at a game developer conference?”, well, buckle up. The event, which was part of Roblox’s annual gathering, was supposed to be a celebration of creativity and innovation. But, as fate would have it, the conference took a detour into a world of crime.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Olson, the brain behind Roblox’s Vehicle Simulator, got physical with the U.S. Park Police officers. However, it didn’t end there. The self-described metaverse creator later informed the Park officers about a gun in his car, armor-piercing ammunition and a large-capacity magazine. Unless Olson was planning to face off against a small army, we have no idea why he would need armor-piercing rounds at a Roblox conference.
It’s worth noting that before all this went down, a security concern had been shared online, leading to increased police presence at the conference. Less than an hour later, the event organizers had to call the Park Police back due to what was described as a “disorderly adult male”. Videos circulating online show a heated confrontation between several officers and an individual outside the conference center.
In response to this unexpected turn of events, Roblox decided to pull the plug on the Innovation Awards scheduled for the evening. Its statement? “This is not how we wanted RDC to end.” Well, no kidding.
While Olson’s actions have left many in the community baffled, it’s perhaps important to note that the 25-year-old hails from Tucson, Arizona, a state that plays a little fast and loose with gun control measures. But that’s no reason for anyone to carry any kind of weaponry, especially to a developer conference.
As of now, Olson faces multiple firearm charges, including leaving a handgun in a vehicle unattended, the possession of a large capacity magazine, and armor-piercing ammunition. The Roblox community, known for creativity and passion, is now left with more questions than answers. Was this a cry for help? A statement? Or is it just a grave error in judgment? That’s for the courts to figure out.
In the meantime, let’s hope that the next Roblox Developer Conference is remembered for innovation, creativity, and groundbreaking games rather than a developer’s run-in with the law.
Speaking of Roblox, PlayStation players can now celebrate the arrival of the popular game platform on their consoles next month.
