MapleStory Explores Web3 with Dedicated Subnet on Avalanche

Nexon Group, renowned for the popular online game MapleStory, has announced plans to enter the Web3 space by launching its own version on a dedicated subnet built on Avalanche blockchain.

MapleStory Explores Web3 with Dedicated Subnet on Avalanche

In collaboration with Ava Labs, the developers behind Avalanche blockchain, Nexon aims to introduce MapleStory Universe, a new iteration tailored for blockchain technology.

MapleStory has been a landmark in the global gaming industry since its debut in 2003, pioneering the free-to-play model. Over its 20 years of operation, the game has servers in the US, Europe, Korea, China, Japan, and various other Asian countries, boasting a player base of 180 million worldwide.

The new version on Avalanche will be called MapleStory N, featuring its own dedicated subnet to meet anticipated high usage demands. Players will have the ability to create their in-game worlds within MapleStory N and earn rewards in the form of NFTs. The PC version is set to launch by the end of this year.

Nexon hopes that transitioning MapleStory to the blockchain platform will enhance game security and unlock new potentials through advanced Web3 technologies.

Initially considering Polygon as their blockchain partner, Nexon switched to Avalanche citing its more suitable infrastructure and extensive experience supporting GameFi projects. Angela Son, Nexon's partnership manager, explained:

"We chose to leverage Avalanche's subnet to maximize the benefits of blockchain gaming, such as reliability and transparency. MapleStory N is designed to allow in-game items to be upgraded and store data on the blockchain."