Table Tennis England has joined a groundbreaking new sports destination on Roblox, helping bring table tennis to millions of young people through one of the world’s most popular gaming platforms.

The new hex Sports Mall, created by virtual fashion and gaming specialist republiqe, brings together leading sporting organisations from across the globe within a dedicated virtual environment where users can explore, socialise, discover new sports and customise their avatars with official digital merchandise.

Table Tennis England is one of the launch partners, joining an impressive line-up that includes NASCAR, Six Nations Rugby, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), New Zealand Rugby and The Open Championship.

Introducing table tennis to new audiences

Roblox attracts millions of active users worldwide, many of whom are younger audiences who increasingly consume sport, entertainment and social experiences in digital environments.

Through our presence within the hex Sports Mall, players can discover table tennis in a completely new way, engaging with the sport through a dedicated branded space within the virtual destination.

The initiative forms part of Table Tennis England’s ongoing commitment to finding innovative ways to connect with new audiences and inspire more people to become involved in the sport, whether as players, volunteers, officials or fans.

Where sport meets gaming

The hex Sports Mall has been specifically designed around how younger generations engage online. Rather than a traditional retail environment, it combines sport, gaming, fashion and digital experiences in an immersive setting where users can explore and express their identity through their avatars.

Visitors can browse official virtual merchandise, interact with branded sports environments and discover different sports and organisations from around the world.

For Table Tennis England, the opportunity to sit alongside internationally recognised sporting brands helps increase the visibility of table tennis within a rapidly growing digital space.

James Gaubert, Founder and Creative Director of republiqe, said: “Sport and gaming have an incredibly natural crossover. Fans have always used clothing, kits and merchandise to show who they support, and for the next generation that identity increasingly extends to their avatars.

“With the hex Sports Mall, we wanted to create somewhere that brings those worlds together – a destination where you can discover your favourite teams and sports, buy and wear official virtual merchandise, play, socialise and discover new experiences.

“To be launching alongside organisations and brands of the calibre of NASCAR, Six Nations Rugby, the ECB, Table Tennis England, New Zealand Rugby and The Open Championship is incredibly exciting. Between them, they represent hugely passionate fan communities around the world, and that is exactly what we want hex to be about.”

Embracing new ways to grow the game

Jack Ramful, Director of Engagement at Table Tennis England, said: “If we want table tennis to remain relevant and accessible to future generations, we need to engage with audiences where they are spending their time. Platforms such as Roblox are a significant part of how young people socialise, express themselves and discover new interests.

“Being part of the hex Sports Mall allows us to introduce table tennis to entirely new audiences in a creative and engaging way, alongside some of the biggest names in world sport. We see this as an exciting opportunity to raise awareness of our sport, inspire curiosity and potentially encourage more people to pick up a bat for the first time.

“Innovation has an important role to play in growing participation, and this partnership demonstrates our commitment to exploring new ways of connecting people with table tennis.”

Explore the Sports Mall

The hex Sports Mall is now live on Roblox, bringing together some of the biggest names in sport within a shared virtual destination.

Whether you’re already a table tennis fan or discovering the sport for the first time, visit the Sports Mall to explore Table Tennis England’s virtual space and experience how sport and gaming are coming together to create new opportunities for sports fans around the world.