Nexon’s MapleStory Universe Leverages Polygon for NFTs
TL;DR:
- Nexon, a major game publisher, is developing MapleStory Universe, an NFT-based game on Polygon.
- Polygon’s Supernet will enable Nexon to create a dedicated app chain, scaling better than a shared blockchain.
- Players can earn NFTs in-game without NFT presales or in-app purchases, and the game will eventually have its own crypto token.
Gaming giant Nexon is set to launch MapleStory Universe, a new Web3 game based on its popular pixelated 2D role-playing franchise, using Ethereum scaling network Polygon for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) [1]. Nexon announced its plans at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. MapleStory, which debuted in 2003, has generated over $4 billion in revenue and has more than 180 million registered users to date [1].
MapleStory Universe will use Polygon’s Supernet to enable Nexon to have its own “dedicated app chain” [1]. Polygon Labs VP, Global Games and Platform Business Development Urvit Goel, explained that this allows Nexon to scale in a way that would be impossible on a shared blockchain, as the game and the IP are enormous [1].
Polygon’s Supernets are comparable to Avalanche’s Subnets in providing a dedicated sub-network for individual projects. These Supernets offer customization options for creators and insulate decentralized apps (dapps) and games from potential performance issues on the broader public network [1].
Although MapleStory Universe does not have a confirmed release date, Goel revealed that there would be no NFT presales, and players could earn items as NFTs simply by playing the game [1]. In addition, Nexon shared that MapleStory Universe would eventually have its own crypto token, with details to be disclosed later [1].
As an NFT-centric game, tokenized assets will play a significant role in MapleStory Universe, and players can trade or transfer these assets via the game’s marketplace [1]. This development signals Nexon’s commitment to expanding the NFT ecosystem and working closely with Polygon Labs to develop and market the game [1].
South Korea’s gaming industry has been a leader in Web3 development, with major studios such as NCSoft, Netmarble, and Krafton working on blockchain projects [1]. Polygon Labs President Ryan Wyatt highlighted South Korea as a “critical market” for Web3 gaming, reflecting the country’s influence in the growing blockchain gaming sector [1].
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