South Korean Gaming Firm Nexon To Integrate Blockchain in ‘Huge Experiment’ 

Key Takeaways

• Nexon is embarking on “a huge experiment” with blockchain technology integration into video games.
• MapleStory has amassed over $5 billion in lifetime revenue since its launch in 2003.
• Despite being in its early stages, blockchain technology is poised to transform the future of gaming.

South Korean gaming company Nexon has announced its intention to integrate blockchain technology into online games. This move aims to increase the lifespan of video games in an increasingly saturated industry. 

Nexon Universe’s head of strategy, Keith Kim, told CNA   that the move was “a huge experiment.”

Nexon’s Blockchain Vision 

Nexon, the publisher of the hit multiplayer title MapleStory, said it intends to utilize blockchain tokens to allow the process of in-game assets “to be driven by the market.”

In its new project, MapleStory Universe, the integration of blockchain technology will mean processes within the game will be influenced by the market instead of a centralized entity. 

“Issuance is no more free or controlled by a centralized entity, and it will be driven by the market dynamics, which we believe is a huge experiment,” Kim said. 

The head of strategy added that the company believes it will make the game more organic and allow the product to be “sustainable for over next two decades or more.”

How Is Nexon Different?

MapleStory has amassed over $5 billion  in lifetime revenue since its launch in 2003, with over 260 million players. The side-scrolling multiplayer game has already lasted longer than most other video games – but Kim believes blockchain technology can drive proactivity in players even more. 

Going a step further than just utilizing blockchain technology for an in-game currency, Nexon claims it is embedding it into the very core of “issuance power.”

This decentralizing issuance power allows gamers and other participants to take a real stake in the game. 

“…allowing them to choose when they want to exercise this power really creates a different market dynamics and sustainability,” Kim said. 

In August 2024, Nexon unveiled its own cryptoasset, the NXPC coin , which can be used for in-game transactions.

“This token will have a price, and this particular price, in turn, will act as a cost of issuance,” Kim said. 

Blockchain and Video Game Preservation

Despite still being relatively nascent, blockchain technology is transforming the gaming industry by providing a solution for true ownership, creating new revenue models, and fostering player-driven economies.

Blockchain enables the creation of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which can represent unique in-game assets like characters, weapons, skins, or items.

As an increasing number of video game servers close down , gamers have criticized the industry for not being transparent about who owns a title.

With blockchain, players could have true ownership of these digital assets, meaning they can buy, sell, or trade them outside the game on various platforms.

This differs from traditional games, where the game developer usually controls all in-game items, which can be removed at any time.

About the Author

Kurt Robson

Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN with a diverse background across several prominent news outlets. Having transitioned into the world of technology journalism several years ago, Kurt has developed a keen fascination with all things AI. Kurt’s reporting blends a passion for innovation with a commitment to delivering insightful, accurate and engaging stories on the cutting edge of technology.

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