Nexon went all-in with its sixth annual MapleStory Fest on October 14th, 2023. This year’s sold-out event racked up an impressive attendance, pulling in over 600 guests. It was a full-on XP grind with a lot on the quest log—exclusive announcements, immersive Q&A sessions, a merch store, and a laundry list of game-themed activities.
Among the VIPs in the zone was Wonki Kang, the executive director of MapleStory. His surprise appearance was the ultimate plot twist for the event. He hosted an exclusive fireside chat, where he shared crucial deets on what’s brewing in the MapleWorld—the New Age update and the 6th Job skills.
Wonki Kang’s insights were more than just patch notes. He opened up on how the New Age update is a game-changer, set to expand MapleStory as a global IP. The dev team has been AFK, working behind the scenes to level up the game to an entirely new stratosphere.
Maplers, A.K.A the franchise’s biggest fans, are on the edge of their gaming chairs. Nexon aims to give every player the hero treatment with the New Age update. This isn’t just an XP boost; it’s an overhaul that’s focused on new game mechanics and redefining the roles of MapleStory’s many jobs.
Wonki Kang didn’t just leave it at that. He gave a nod to the GMS (Global MapleStory) community for their long-standing support. “We’ve put a laser focus on the 6th Job Advancement and 6th Job skills. Expect new areas, beefed-up boss levels, and reworked systems,” said Kang. The MapleStory IP isn’t just staying in-game; Nexon has ambitious plans to extend its reach into various cultural avenues.
Attendees didn’t just level up their game knowledge; they also bagged some serious swag. Every guest received a swag bag and had exclusive dibs on event-only merch, special activities, and on-site events. The agenda included on-stage presentations, MapleStory trivia, and unique gaming challenges.
The highlight reel of the event? That would be the MapleStory M 2v2 boss battle race and the MapleStory M Lucky Doll Claw Game. These weren’t your run-of-the-mill side quests; they were fan-favorite activities that kept the hype meter sky-high.
The final boss of epic moments had to be the world premieres. The community went full poggers over the reveals of Kanna and Hayato’s 6th Job skills animations. Adding to the endgame loot was the reveal of MapleStory M’s new character, Adele, who is set to make her debut this winter. The cheers from the community hit max volume, sealing the event as a critical hit in MapleStory history.
