Nexon, one of the world’s largest game publishers, announced today that it will be building a dedicated, application-specific Polygon Supernet to power the blockchain ecosystem of its wildly successful MapleStory Universe and expand the thriving in-game economy. 

A dedicated Polygon Supernet allows Nexon to customize a blockchain to meet the complex requirements of massively online gaming. With 180 million registered users, MapleStory has been one of Nexon’s most successful games, boasting a broad grassroots community across social media and forums. Bringing this vibrant community into a dedicated blockchain space will propel the already robust in-game economy.

Right now, users buy or sell items from one another with the current Web2 version of MapleStory's currency. In the future, powered by a Polygon Supernet, players will be able to earn and collect NFT items through gameplay to unlock various benefits or utility across the ecosystem. 

“We are looking forward to expanding the NFT ecosystem envisioned by MapleStory Universe by building on Polygon, the top protocol for Web3 gaming. It is the perfect choice to power the ecosystem,” said MapleStory Universe group leader Sun-young Hwang, “We will work closely with the team at Polygon Labs to develop and market the game.”

The announcement comes at an important juncture for Web3. Half of all blockchain activity in 2022 came from games and three-quarters of game developers expect to work on Web3 games in the future. Some of the biggest blockchain gaming projects and publishers are already building on the Polygon network, including Ubisoft, Atari, Animoca, Decentraland, Somnium Space, and The Sandbox. With over 220 million unique user addresses, the Polygon ecosystem is home to tens of thousands of decentralized apps and major global enterprises like Robinhood, Stripe and Adobe.

Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model. The company currently services more than 60 online games in more than 100 countries and has generated more than 1.3 billion player registrations since its founding. This major foray into Web3 once again puts Nexon at the forefront of gaming innovation. 

“Nexon selecting Polygon Supernets to power MapleStory Universe sends a strong message to the entire gaming industry about the future of blockchain gaming,” said Ryan Wyatt, President of Polygon Labs. “Korea is a critical market in bringing web3 gaming to the masses, and Polygon Labs is committed to offering multiple solutions to bring their visions to market.”

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