Tencent exploring MapleStory developer Nexon acquisition

Tencent exploring MapleStory developer Nexon acquisition
Tencent exploring MapleStory developer Nexon acquisition


Tencent, a Chinese language know-how and holding firm with a worldwide footprint, is reportedly exploring the potential for buying sport developer and writer Nexon.

Representatives from the tech firm contacted the household of Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju to discover a possible deal, however no concrete phrases have been reached and a deal is just not assured, in accordance with Bloomberg.

Nexon is the South Korean online game developer behind the MapleStory collection, a massively multiplayer on-line role-playing sport (MMORPG) that first gained popularity in the early 2000s as a standard PC sport.

Web3 gaming continues to be a intently watched use case for blockchain know-how as the flexibility to present gamers possession over in-game property might create a completely new asset class and create tens of billions of {dollars} in capital.

Games, GameFi
MapleStory gameplay. Supply: MapleStory

The corporate integrated blockchain technology in two totally different installments of the collection, MapleStory N and MapleStory Universe, in Could 2025, permitting customers to gather in-game gadgets and rewards within the type of non-fungible tokens (NFTS).

Associated: MapleStory revives Avalanche, tops 1M daily transactions twice in a week

Curiosity in Web3 gaming surges, however nonetheless removed from mainstream

In accordance with a February 2025 report from DappRadar, blockchain gaming exercise surged by roughly 368% year-over-year in January 2025, pushed by video games like Off The Grid and the then-upcoming MapleStory N.

Off The Grid is a AAA shooter, printed by Gunzilla Video games, that options console-level graphics and gameplay much like that of conventional online game blockbusters produced by main sport studios.

This represented a major departure from conventional Web3 video games that usually function easy gameplay mechanics, cartoonish graphics, and a give attention to participant rewards quite than sturdy gameplay.

Regardless of the preliminary spike in participant curiosity that began in late 2024, Web3 gaming exercise declined by 10%, mirrored by a drop in day by day distinctive energetic wallets, in accordance with DappRadar.

Whereas the crypto gaming sector stays wholesome and titles equivalent to MapleStory and Off The Grid replicate a shift to larger high quality video games centered on participant expertise, Web3 gaming nonetheless faces a number of headwinds.

Chief amongst these impediments to widespread Web3 gaming adoption are the technical barrier to entry of establishing a blockchain pockets and the standard gaming group’s aversion to play-to-earn games and different ways designed to fuse gaming and cash.

Journal: Can Off the Grid survive Steam’s crypto ban? Rage over Maplestory cheaters: Web3 Gamer