Roblox removes iconic ‘phew’ sound, fans launch hashtag

Fans of the online game platform Roblox have sprung into action after Roblox Corporation removed the iconic dying sound from the game. The signature “phew” has been removed from the game due to a licensing dispute with the creator.

In a Tweet writes Roblox Corporation that the ‘phew’ has been replaced by a new standard sound due to a license issue. Previously, the sound effect seemed to be licensed in the game itself; for a dollar or 100 robux, gamers would be able to use the ‘phew’ in their own game format within Roblox. Apparently this deal is no longer in effect.

The sound was originally created by Tommy Tallarico for a rather unknown action game called Messiah. That game came out in 2000, but Tallarico discovered years later that his sound effect was used in Roblox. He wrote in 2019: “I’m not mad at Roblox and I don’t want them to take my ‘phew’ sound out of the game. (…) I’ll have to be compensated reasonably and I’ve never been cheap,” he says with a smiley emoticon beyond that.

It is not clear whether Tallarico has indeed ever had a licensing deal with Roblox Corporation. Either way, fans are wondering why the company couldn’t make a deal for the sound effect. Roblox is one of the most popular game platforms in recent years and according to critics, the sound, which has taken on a life of its own, should therefore simply be bought by the company. Below the hashtag #SaveTheOOF trying to draw fans attention to the problem. It is unknown what Roblox Corporation might have to pay for a licensing deal with Tallarico.

Roblox is a creative game environment where users can create various game modes themselves