'Roblox' celebrates Christmas by bringing 'Elf' to life

Just in time for the holidays, Roblox is bringing a true Christmas classic to life: Will Ferrell-starring Elf will be an official experience available for players this season.

Created by Fairview Portals, a creative studio founded by Elf director Jon Favreau, and Supersocial, a virtual world developer, the Elf immersive experience will take players into Santa's Workshop, drawing inspiration from the film — and also marking its twentieth anniversary.

The creators used special effects including tilt-shift camera, desaturated environments, and material-inspired textures to put together a stop-motion world. Yonatan Raz-Fridman, founder and CEO of Supersocial called the project "a labor of love," intended to channel "the whimsy and joy of the holiday season."

Adorable aesthetics aside, the Roblox/Elf world offers three workshop roles that players can take on: wish taker, toy maker, and gift wrapper. Roblox also collaborated with the composer behind Elf, John Debney, to score the experience.

The creators plan to expand the space throughout the year, set to launch new features and experiences, so Santa's Workshop won't be confined to December.