Roblox Is Partnering With A Medically Prescribed Video Game

Children have been suffering from attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorders for many years. Despite this fact, it has only been a recent change that rather than ignore these problems and blame the children, steps are being made to better aid kids with their disorders. With fidget spinners and pop it fidget toys helping many children with nervous energy, anxiety, and hyperactivity, it's great to see video games also stepping in to help.

Roblox has recently partnered with Akili Interactive, a video game company that created a racing game called EndeavorRx. This game is an FDA-approved treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders that can be prescribed to children ages 8 to 12 to help improve attention.

Through this partnership, the game will digitally connect to the Roblox platform, unlocking badges, pets, and avatar customization options that directly pull from the styles in EndeavorRx. Akili CEO Eddie Martucci hopes that patients and their families will find it empowering to show off their winnings in Roblox. Martucci goes on to explain that: “We’re saying, ‘Not only can you use your medicine to help customize your game, you can do it in really cool and exclusive ways.'”

Not surprising, but Akili has faced years of skepticism that a video game can serve as an effective medicine, but the clinical trials said it all and the FDA approving the game in 2020 has won it more support. The EndeavorRx connection to Roblox will be tested this summer, as Akili monitors how the reward system works. Roblox has a lot to gain from the partnership as well, considering that Roblox often takes knocks for the amount of time kids spend on it.

This is a huge step for what gaming could do to help children and perhaps even help with other disorders down the road. There is never one treatment that fits all patients and opening up new exercises and experiences is a great step forward.