Nexon is expanding the MapleStory ecosystem through its subsidiary Nexspace, which has opened official assets and AI development tools to users. As a result, 435 games created during the Vibe Camp have passed review and are now in service. This initiative aims to broaden the use of intellectual property (IP) and create new genres and content, potentially extending the IP's lifespan.
According to the gaming industry on July 13, Nexspace, Nexon's blockchain subsidiary, held the 'MapleStory Vibe Camp' last month, allowing anyone to create games.
As a result, 693 games were developed based on the MapleStory Universe IP, with 435 passing review for service. The company applied criteria such as user retention, in-game engagement, and total play counts. A variety of genres were created, including real-time strategy (RTS), trading card games (TCG), idle role-playing games (RPG), and tycoon simulations.
The MapleStory Vibe Camp was conducted in collaboration with the AI-based game development platform Burst Eight, in a dedicated space called the 'MapleStory Universe (MSU) Space.' Nexspace allowed users to freely utilize official assets such as characters, monsters, items, and backgrounds from the MSU. Notably, users could create games using natural language prompts.
Nexspace reported that 29,015 users from 114 countries played a total of 88,037 games. The most successful title saw a user return rate increase from 35% to 70%.
This Vibe Camp is seen as a confirmation of the expansion potential for the MapleStory IP. With over 20 years of service, the longevity of existing game IPs has become a challenge, and Nexon has been exploring ways to extend the IP's lifespan through user-generated content and genre expansion.
The games created reinterpret the original IP assets, including monsters, skills, maps, non-playable characters (NPCs), and sounds, in new ways. Various genres were developed, including RTS, TCG, idle RPG, visual novels, auto-battlers, dungeon exploration, tycoon simulations, and story-driven adventures. Nexspace emphasized that diverse genres of games were created, which MapleStory had not attempted in its 23-year history.
The company anticipates that the MSU ecosystem will continue to thrive even after the camp concludes. Nexspace noted that after the camp's prize distribution, 1,250 builders are currently working on approximately 3,000 projects, keeping the MSU Space active.
To support this, Nexspace plans to maintain an on-chain economic system for the MapleStory Universe, where revenue generated from game play is returned to creators. The prizes from the Vibe Camp were distributed in NXPC.
Nexspace stated, 'For 23 years, MapleStory content has followed a one-way flow, produced by one company and played by millions. However, during this camp, thousands of users expanded the MapleStory IP on other platforms. This marks the beginning of a change.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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