Nexon heads into NFTs with MapleStory Universe and Polygon deal

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Nexon announced that its MapleStory Universe virtual world ecosystem will enable players and creators to develop and manage non-fungible tokens (NFTs). And it is working with the Polygon blockchain protocol to make that 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 game companies are all-in on NFTs, which can be used to establish player ownership and resale of assets. The South Koreans are in even though many hardcore gamers in the West have resisted NFTs.

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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 includes the makers of third-party games and user-generated content as well.

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Starting with MapleStory N, new content and characters based on 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 NFT’s to be recognized and valued in the MapleStory Universe beyond MapleStory N.

MapleStory N will not include a cash shop. Players will acquire items through gameplay, such as completing quests and