Nexon enters NFTs with MapleStory Universe and Polygon deal

Nexon announced that the MapleStory Universe virtual world ecosystem will enable players and creators to develop and manage non-fungible tokens (NFTs). And it works with the Polygon blockchain protocol to make it happen.

In a session today at the Game Developers Conference, the company said the NFTs will have both tangible and intangible values. It’s another example of how South Korean gaming companies are all-in on NFTs, which can be used to establish player ownership and asset resale. The South Koreans are in even though many hardcore players in the West have resisted NFTs.

>>Follow VentureBeat’s ongoing GDC 2023 coverage<

MapleStory is a massively multiplayer game with more than 180 million registered players, as well as a strong presence on social media and community forums. But the MapleStory Universe also includes the makers of third-party games and user-generated content.

Starting with MapleStory N, new content and characters based on the MapleStory IP and tracked with decentralized applications (DApps) will be developed by content creators and introduced to the MapleStory Universe.

Since all items in Maplestory N are NFTs, players will have digital ownership of the items they acquire. The use of DApps allows NFTs to be recognized and valued in the MapleStory universe outside of MapleStory N.

MapleStory N will not include a cash shop. Players will acquire items through gameplay, such as completing quests and defeating monsters. Each region in the game has a limited number of NFT rewards, increasing their value and increasing the fun of ownership. Nexon intends its already beloved franchise to deliver fun that most other blockchain games have yet to do.

Polygon partnership

Nexon is South Korea’s largest game developer and publisher, so the deal with Polygon is a big deal in the new Web3 gaming space.

Polygon will power the blockchain ecosystem for one of the world’s most popular multiplayer games, MapleStory Universe, leveraging Polygon Supernets’ technology to expand its thriving in-game economy.

Polygon Labs, the development and growth team for the Polygon Protocol, will provide both technological and business support for the game. The announcement was made today by Production Director of Nexon’s MapleStory Universe project manager Sun-young Hwang.

MapleStory debuted in South Korea in 2003 and has since been released in several other countries around the world. In the game, players create their own characters and embark on missions, fight monsters and interact with other players in a virtual world. The game features 2D side-scrolling graphics and a variety of different classes to choose from, each with their own unique skills and abilities. MapleStory Universe is a blockchain Virtual World ecosystem based on the MapleStory IP.

MapleStory has been out for 20 years, and it has a massive, massive fan base,” said Urvit Goel, vice president of global games and platform development at Polygon Labs, in an interview with GamesBeat.

“This is one of the biggest gaming companies globally,” he said. “This technology is real. And what it offers players is real.”

Based on the mega-hit MapleStory IP, Nexon will showcase various blockchain projects aimed at the global market such as MapleStory N and aims to build the next generation of virtual worlds through the NFT-based ecosystem MapleStory Universe

Nexon will leverage Polygon Supernets to drive the game’s thriving in-game economy to the next level. Currently, players buy and sell items with each other using the game’s currency. Players will earn NFTs through gameplay (ie hunting monsters, completing quests, etc.) to unlock more perks and tools in various games and applications in the ecosystem.

“We look forward to expanding the NFT ecosystem envisioned by MapleStory Universe by building on Polygon, the best protocol for Web3 games. It is the perfect choice to power the ecosystem,” said MapleStory Universe Group Leader Sun-young Hwang, in a statement. “We will work closely with the team at Polygon Labs to develop and market the game.”

Polygon Supernets is the most advanced app chain solution for game industry leaders to scale on Web3 through dedicated blockchains. Polygon Supernets offer high-performance, customizable app chains with low to no transaction costs and access to premium first-class tools and implementation services to power any game or metaverse use case.

“Nexon choosing Polygon Supernets to power its worldwide hit MapleStory Universe sends a strong message to the entire gaming industry about the future of blockchain gaming,” Ryan Wyatt, president of Polygon Labs, said in a statement. “Korea is a critical market for bringing web3 games to the masses, and Polygon Labs is committed to providing more solutions to bring their visions to market.”

Polygon Labs, a development and growth team for the decentralized Polygon protocol, has in less than two years built one of the world’s largest ecosystems for Web3 gaming dApps, partnering with studios and publishers such as Square Enix, Neowiz, Midnight Society, Jam City and Tilting Point, as well as e-sports teams and streamers such as Cloud9 and Dr Disrespect.

The network has achieved mass recognition and usage thanks in part to its close ties to Ethereum. The Ethereum network has long been the go-to ecosystem for developers seeking high liquidity, robust security, and a broad user base. This narrative has been a key driver in the exodus of projects from other blockchains to Polygon, such as the recent Magic Eden integration and the migration of highly popular DeGods and y00ts. Polygon Labs’ dedication to improving Ethereum is exemplified by their $1 billion warchest.

Polygon believes it has the infrastructure to scale up the number of users to millions and to scale up the transactions as well, Goel said.

Goel said it’s kind of a chicken-and-egg problem, with skeptics wanting to see more players and more fun blockchain games before diving in. But it’s hard to get developers to invest more in big games without a big audience. He hopes deals like Nexon will break that cycle.