Nexon is a video game company that develops and publishes MapleStory and is responsible for MapleStory Classic World. Founded in South Korea in 1994 and now headquartered in Japan, Nexon is one of the pioneers of the free-to-play online game model, in which the game itself is free and revenue comes from in-game purchases.
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History
Nexon was established in Seoul, South Korea, on December 26, 1994, by Kim Jung-ju (who died in 2022). Its first title, Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds (1996), was one of the earliest graphical MMORPGs and remains in service. A series of online games followed through the late 1990s and 2000s, including KartRider and QuizQuiz.
In 2004 Nexon acquired Wizet, the studio that had created MapleStory, and has developed and published the game ever since. In 2005 Nexon moved its headquarters to Tokyo, Japan, and in December 2011 it listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its largest shareholder is the holding company NXC, based in Jeju, South Korea.
Business model
Nexon is widely credited with popularising the free-to-play model paired with a cash shop (microtransactions) in the Western market, an approach MapleStory helped establish. The model lets players access the full game at no cost while selling cosmetic items, convenience features, and other goods for real money.
Notable titles
Beyond MapleStory, Nexon's catalogue includes Dungeon & Fighter (developed through its subsidiary Neople), Sudden Attack, KartRider, The First Descendant, and Blue Archive. MapleStory 2 (2015) has since shut down. Nexon operates regional offices across South Korea, the United States, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Role in MapleStory Classic World
Nexon announced MapleStory Classic World in April 2025 during Global MapleStory's 20th anniversary celebration, presenting it as a permanent server that recreates the pre-Big Bang era within the existing Global MapleStory client. See Differences from MapleStory for the tracked changes from the classic-era game.
Logo sound
A two second sting accompanies the Nexon logo as the client starts, before the Wizet logo and the login screen. It is one of the shortest pieces of audio the game ships, and one of the most familiar to anyone who played the era.