MapleStory Universe Expands NFT MMORPG With Mobile/Web Tie-Ins
Nexpace, the blockchain-focused arm of game giant Nexon, has launched MapleStory N, a PC-based MMORPG spin-off of the long-running franchise’s iconic side-scrolling iteration. This flagship game, now live, incorporates in-game items as NFTs on the Avalanche L1 Henesys network, enabling player-to-player trading on integrated marketplaces.
To broaden accessibility and appeal to modern players with less time, Nexpace aims to launch more than a dozen mobile and web-based applications by Q1 2026. These supplementary experiences are designed to complement the core MapleStory N gameplay, offering activities like character enhancement and even rental services, with the goal of integrating them back into the main PC game.
MapleStory N faithfully recreates the core experience for millions of nostalgic players and newcomers alike. The original game’s 260 million player base provides a significant foundation. All in-game items in MapleStory N are NFTs managed on the Avalanche-based Henesys blockchain.
Keith Kim, head of strategy at Nexpace, acknowledged the limitations of a PC-only release. “How do we extract the core fun… and make it available on mobile, on the web… so you don’t have to sit in front of your PC?” he explained. The strategy mirrors models seen in games like EA FC mobile app integrations.
This expansion strategy directly responds to the mature MapleStory audience: “The player base has grown up and become adults, and having less time to dedicate to the game.” These new mobile/web apps allow players to casually progress while busy, shifting intensive grinding tasks to dedicated sessions playing the main game.
Cooking up a broad ecosystem, Kim noted numerous proposals are being evaluated. “We have received dozens of ideas… hundreds of emails… just over the last 15 days.” While currently requiring Nexpace approval to access Apex API keys, the long-term vision is a fully permissionless environment, similar to a developer hub expected by Q3/Q4 2024.
This ecosystem will be tokenized with NXPC utility tokens. While Nexpace drives the experience now and issues rewards, NXPC supply is largely reserved for contributor payouts—currently a developer-centric model that hopes to evolve to include larger community contributions.
