- Nexon’s MapleStory Universe partners with Polygon to integrate NFTs, enabling players to develop and manage NFTs in-game and enhancing the gaming experience.
- The collaboration aims to break the cycle of skepticism around NFTs in gaming by showcasing their potential in an established and popular game.
- MapleStory N will allow players to acquire NFTs through gameplay, with no cash shop, making the game more engaging and rewarding.
Nexon, one of Asia’s largest game publishers, is set to revolutionize the gaming landscape by taking its popular MapleStory Universe into the world of Web3. The company announced plans to launch a private Supernet on Ethereum scaling network Polygon, allowing for the integration of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into the game. This exciting development marks a significant milestone for NFTs in gaming. The MapleStory Universe boasts over 180 million registered players and has generated more than $4 billion in revenue since its launch in 2003.
Nexon’s MapleStory Universe is partnering with Polygon to build a dedicated Supernet, allowing the gaming giant to scale its operations beyond what is possible on a shared blockchain. Polygon is an Ethereum scaling network that enables faster and cheaper transactions compared to Ethereum’s mainnet. With the new Polygon Supernet, Nexon can have its own “dedicated app chain,” according to Polygon Labs VP of Global Games and Platform Business Development Urvit Goel.
South Korean game companies have been among the first to embrace NFTs and the potential they bring to the gaming world. Nexon’s foray into NFTs with MapleStory Universe reflects the country’s commitment to exploring new technologies in gaming. While many Western gamers have resisted NFTs, the South Korean market has shown a keen interest in adopting and adapting to emerging blockchain technology.
MapleStory Universe – A New Experience for Gamers
The upcoming MapleStory Universe game will not have any NFT presales. Instead, players will earn in-game items as NFTs simply by playing the game, and these tokenized assets will play a significant role in the game itself. Nexon also plans to introduce its crypto token in the future, although specific details still need to be finalized.
The new MapleStory Universe aims to provide a unique gaming experience for players and creators by allowing them to develop and manage NFTs within the game. Third-party developers and creators can create new content and characters based on the MapleStory IP, which will be tracked and managed using decentralized applications (DApps). The integration of NFTs enables players to have digital ownership of the items they acquire, and the use of DApps will allow these NFTs to be recognized and valued beyond the MapleStory Universe.
MapleStory N, an upcoming game within the MapleStory Universe, will not include a cash shop, and players will acquire items through gameplay, such as completing quests and defeating monsters. Each region within the game will have a limited number of NFT rewards, which will enhance players’ value and ownership experience.
What This Means for the Future of Gaming
Nexon’s partnership with Polygon and its decision to integrate NFTs into MapleStory Universe could signal a significant shift in the gaming industry. While some large gaming companies have hesitated to embrace NFTs and crypto fully, Nexon’s move may catalyze for others to follow suit. By successfully implementing NFTs in a popular and established gaming universe, Nexon has the potential to demonstrate the benefits and value of blockchain technology within the gaming world.
As more gaming giants explore the possibilities of Web3 and NFTs, we expect to see an increase in innovative and immersive gaming experiences. The use of NFTs enables actual digital ownership for players and opens up new avenues for developers and content creators to monetize their creations. Moreover, NFTs provide a more secure and transparent method for trading in-game items, ensuring players have a fair and enjoyable gaming experience.
