It’s your world.
BobbaWorld
BobbaWorld was a French-speaking online virtual world inspired by the game Habbo. Launched in May 2007, it closed in 2015. This page exists so that what it was is not forgotten.
BobbaVille
It all starts as BobbaVille, an invite-only server opened to a first circle of players.
- June
BobbaWorld opens to the public
BobbaVille becomes BobbaWorld and opens to everyone: a version very faithful to Habbo, with its entire catalogue available for free.
“I wasn’t the first to try this, but I never imagined that over the years this passion would turn BobbaWorld into a true reference.”
- April
Version 2.0
A major update to the website to get closer to the most recent version of Habbo, dropping Shockwave in favour of Adobe Flash. BobbaWorld quickly establishes itself as one of the major French retro servers and, at its peak, gathers more than 1,500 players online at the same time — enough to require a queue to get onto the server.
- April 8
2.5 announced
Two years after 2.0, the team officially announces version 2.5 and opens the Behind the World blog to involve players in its development: a new interface, a redesigned help system, limited-edition furniture.
The black out
In support of a fellow server targeted by Sulake for €500,000, BobbaWorld goes dark for a “black out”.
- August 11
2.5 beta
The new version opens in early access to a limited number of beta testers. Designed to be the most complete version and the closest to Habbo’s content, it runs up against the high pace at which new content lands on Habbo, which makes a public release hard to reach.
- October
End of version 2.0
The Habbo private server scene, once a world of mutual help and sharing, has turned into a business. BobbaWorld’s creator, TheStaff, regularly receives threats, attempts to uncover their identity, formal notices. When passionate developers who helped keep BobbaWorld alive end up dragged to court, TheStaff chooses to close BobbaWorld.
- May 14
The relaunch
After two years of silence, the developers’ blog comes back to life and announces a very large update. Urged from all sides, TheStaff relaunches BobbaWorld to finally deliver the long-awaited 2.5 in early access.
- June
The second closure
Technical problems slow the 2.5 down and, following a betrayal by a key member of the team, BobbaWorld closes a second time.
- Ten years later
What remains
Ten years after the closure of 2.0, eighteen years after the first version, the memory of BobbaWorld lives on. Every offer to buy it or relaunch it for money has been turned down: BobbaWorld was never meant to make a profit.
“At first, all I wanted was a community where everyone could let their imagination run free.”
What the players kept.
Words left by those who lived BobbaWorld. To add yours, come by the Discord.
BobbaWorld, so many good memories — even now, in my thirties, I remember it like it was yesterday.
RightPlayerBobbaWorld was absolutely wild, I still remember my flats packed with rares, hours and hours logged in — I was young back then and it was my way to switch off completely and dive into that magical world.
XxbellaXxPlayerFormer players meet up on Discord.
Stories, memories, screenshots and reunions: the BobbaWorld – Public server is where the memory of BobbaWorld is passed on.