Beloved children’s program Sesame Street is expanding its reach into the world of virtual gaming with the launch of Sesame Street: Neighborhood Adventures on Roblox. This new hub allows children, families, and fans to explore a digital replica of the iconic Sesame Street block, create personalized avatars, and engage in educational mini-games. The move comes as Sesame Street navigates a year of change, including funding challenges and new collaborations with streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.
Exploring the Neighborhood and Engaging in Play
Within the Roblox hub, users can design their own Sesame Street -themed avatars, choosing from a variety of child-friendly features and accessories. They can then participate in interactive mini-games featuring familiar characters. One such game, Abby’s Hide and Grow Seek, centers around new creatures called Magical Beasties, encouraging exploration and problem-solving. Portals connect users to additional games, including Sesame Street: Magical Beastie Quest, further expanding the play experience. Beyond gaming, the hub also provides access to exclusive clips from the Sesame Street show, including a preview of “Tales from 123,” a new animated segment debuting November 16th, leading up to the annual Sesame Street Day on November 10th.
A Strategic Expansion for Sesame Street
The launch represents a vital new approach for Sesame Street, acknowledging the growing popularity of gaming and immersive experiences. “With gaming and immersive experiences growing in popularity alongside streaming video platforms, this launch is a vital new contribution to our audience-first, omni-channel approach,” said Aaron Bisman, senior vice president of marketing at Sesame Workshop. Sesame Street’s mission to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder extends into this digital world, offering a new avenue for delivering its educational content. The hub’s creation was supported by a grant from the Roblox Development Fund and developed in collaboration with Shovel Team and tech companies Exclusible and MindTrust.
Educational Gaming Trend Continues
This move reflects a broader trend of educational media investing in childhood gaming. Sesame Street previously co-created Sesame Street Mecha Builders: The Game with Roblox in 2022, featuring STEM-focused challenges for young players. PBS KIDS has also made significant moves, announcing its own age-appropriate gameplay shows designed to provide a safer alternative to live stream and gameplay accounts led by adults. Rebecca Kantar, head of education at Roblox, emphasized the importance of meeting learners where they are, praising the Sesame Street team for creating a “living, explorable Hub” that can motivate and reinforce learning.
Addressing Safety Concerns on Roblox
While Sesame Street: Neighborhood Adventures offers a potentially enriching experience, it comes amidst ongoing concerns about safety on the Roblox platform. Despite the implementation of numerous safety features, including disabled chat and age-appropriate avatar creation, Roblox faces legal challenges and scrutiny regarding child safety. The platform reported 24,000 suspected child exploitation incidents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2024 and is subject to multiple lawsuits alleging insufficient safety protocols.
In response to these concerns, Sesame Workshop has emphasized its commitment to creating a secure environment. “Our approach to developing the Sesame Street Hub on Roblox has been guided by rigorous safety standards and child-centered design,” the organization stated. Players under 13 cannot make purchases within the experience.
Ultimately, the launch of Sesame Street: Neighborhood Adventures represents a calculated step into the digital realm, aiming to expand Sesame Street’s reach while prioritizing child safety. The success of this venture will depend on continued vigilance and proactive measures to address the ongoing challenges surrounding online safety for young users. The move highlights the evolving landscape of children’s entertainment and education, with a growing emphasis on immersive and interactive experiences within the metaverse.
