MapleStory Universe is launching its MapleStory N blockchain-powered online game

MapleStory Universe––the Web3 IP-expansion initiative from Nexon– is launching MapleStory N, the blockchain-powered MMORPG.

The game is live today (May 15), bringing new dimensions to the 22-year-old MapleStory intellectual property franchise. Backed by over 31.5 million on-chain transactions during its playtests, MapleStory N represents a major milestone at the intersection of nostalgic gaming experience and Web3 innovation.

Amid widespread skepticism by gaming communities, the MapleStory team believes Web3 is key to securing the future of games. The company worked for a long time on the project, transitioning the game from Web2 to Web3. Playtests have gone well, as half of all players consistently played the game in testing.

The game is the work of Nexpace, the Web3 IP-expansion initiative backed by Nexon.

As the countdown to the launch of MapleStory N begins, players around the world can look forward to a journey that blends nostalgic 2D side-scrolling gameplay with innovative Web3 functionality. With secure, gasless blockchain infrastructure and tradable on-chain assets, the game offers new ways for players to interact with and shape the IP. MapleStory N marks the first official game release within the MapleStory Universe, laying the groundwork for future expansion into additional gaming IPs.

Sunyoung Hwang, CEO of Nexpace, said in a statement, “The launch of MapleStory N marks the culmination of years of development, rigorous user testing, and unwavering community support. This isn’t just the release of a new game; it’s the beginning of a new chapter in gaming history. With MapleStory N, we’ve built a platform where players don’t just participate, but actively shape the worlds they inhabit, paving the way for a more immersive and community-driven future for the gaming industry.”

Key features at launch

Designed for both longtime fans and a new generation of players, the game reinvents the MMORPG experience by enabling true ownership and direct participation in the in-game economy of MapleStory N. Key features include:

Reward exerience 2.0: A next-level gaming experience that provides enhanced item utility and rarity. By empowering players to issue, trade, and manage in-game items on-chain, the game addresses item dilution issues and enables players to use game assets beyond the game itself, offering true and lasting ownership.

Community-focused contribution mechanism: Opportunities for players, creators and developers to contribute to the game’s evolution through user-generated content and applications, and be rewarded with ecosystem tokens

Secure and safe gaming environment: MapleStory N leverages more than two decades of anti-cheat expertise from the original franchise, combining advanced detection tools, real-time monitoring, and AvaCloud’s security infrastructure to safeguard the ecosystem.

Testing reveals strong early traction

To date, pioneer playtests of MapleStory N showcased exceptionally high engagement, pointing to strong market readiness at launch: Over 31.5 million on-chain activities recorded during pre-launch phases. It has strong marketplace activity with 76.2% of in-game tokens circulating actively spent.

The company also said it had robust retention rates and significant player participation underscore the game’s appeal and economic sustainability. The total number of distinct wallets registered on the MSU testnet website reached 972,000 over the course of playtest period.

And the total number of users interacting with MSU reached 506,000, with one in two consistently playing MapleStory N (i.e. 47-54% retention rate).

MapleStory N marks the beginning of a key narrative within the MSU ecosystem, where user-driven activities and Synergy Apps will accelerate ongoing expansion. Building on this launch, MapleStory Universe will continue to evolve through player contributions, decentralized content creation, and an open economy designed for long-term growth.

MapleStory N will be available on PC. For more information, visit the official website at https://msu.io/.

Nexpace is a blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Nexon invested $100 million in it in the first quarter of 2024. The mission is to launch an IP-expansion initiative powered by blockchain technology and NFTs to build a community-driven ecosystem.

The IP: MapleStory IP boasts over 250 million+ registered users globally. With its content and resource pool from 22 years of live operations, MapleStory has built a robust ecosystem filled with items that can be NFTized and strong community features, equivalent to $5 billion in lifetime revenue. More than 100 people are working on the blockchain project in partnership with Avalanche.

Aiming to reach global gamers, MapleStory N will be launched in various regions where blockchain games are supported.

On 27 August 2024, Nexpace unveiled the Nexpace Protocol and its proprietary NXPC token forthe MapleStory Universe. This token is set to enhance the in-game experience while supportingthe broader MapleStory ecosystem by enabling the community to participate in item creation —a role traditionally held by game service providers. With NXPC, contributors can interact with andcreate in-game items, fostering a community-driven economy within the MapleStory Universe.

The economy of MapleStory N resembles the real-world economy. Particularly, MapleStory N’s Limited Supply Reward and Dynamic Pricing systems encourage users to develop diverse strategies.

MapleStory N limits the number of each item available, which helps not only maintain but also add value by adjusting prices based on demand. MapleStory N has set the total quantity and types of items you can get, categorized by type, level, and rarity. Instead of buying the items outright from the cash shop, you should play the game to obtain the items that are created at regular intervals. Items drop at regular intervals, and the same cycle applies even if the user has acquired all of the issued items.

Dynamic pricing system

All in-game transactions, item purchases, and enhancements are conducted using in-game currencies. The values of items, goods, and even enhancement prices are determined by market economy principles. If many players are enhancing certain items, the cost of enhancement increases. Conversely, if fewer players choose to enhance an item, the enhancement cost for the item decreases.

MSU is an ever-expanding virtual world based on the MapleStory IP. Community members can enjoy several Synergy Apps, which are DApps, that bolster the user experience. For example, you can expect applications like a Marketplace, where users can trade the NFTs earned in MapleStory N, and Navigator, where users can find and discover the various properties of items and NFTs available in the MSU.

The team is carefully analyzing the impact of potential carry-over items, progress, and rewards. While incentivizing participation in this phase is key, mechanisms are being explored to ensure the ecosystem remains fair for new players at launch.