MapleStory N, the Blockchain Adaptation of the Iconic 2D MMORPG, Launches on Avalanche

MapleStory N, the long-awaited blockchain adaptation of the iconic 2D MMORPG, launched Thursday on Avalanche —and it's already being called one of the most significant crypto gaming debuts to date.

MapleStory N, the long-awaited blockchain adaptation of the iconic 2D MMORPG, launched Thursday on Avalanche —and it’s already being called one of the most significant crypto gaming debuts to date.

The rollout triggered a 549% spike in active Avalanche addresses over the past week, according to Nansen, alongside the biggest NFT mint the network has ever recorded. Over 1.7 million Scroll NFTs were minted during the pre-launch period, with holders now redeeming in-game items inside MapleStory N’s live environment.

Inspector, founder of gaming guild Tokenize 360, told Decrypt: “this is easily the biggest crypto game launch to date”.

The game introduces full on-chain functionality from day one. In-game assets can be owned and traded as NFTs via Avalanche's dedicated Layer 1 chain, Henesys, which went live in April. Unlike other Web3 games that gate or delay crypto elements, MapleStory N drops players directly into a functional blockchain-integrated economy.

Nexpace (NXPC), the game's ecosystem token, also launched Thursday. As of writing, NXPC sits at a US$441M (AU$688M) market cap with over US$2B (AU$3.12B) in trading volume. It surged 76% post-launch to US$2.61 (AU$4.07), as per CoinGecko data.

Ava Labs' Parker Heath described the rollout as a benchmark moment:

A Nostalgia-Driven Avalanche

MapleStory N adapts Nexon's 22-year-old franchise into a Web3-native experience. The original 2D side-scrolling combat and exploration remain intact, but players now control real ownership of assets—a shift that’s resonated with fans.

The game's cultural weight is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. "MapleStory is a legendary IP with deep emotional resonance, especially across Asia where its cultural footprint is comparable to something like World of Warcraft," said Heath. "It's a natural fit for Web3."

Social media has been flooded with player posts describing nostalgia and excitement—though many have reported difficulty even logging in due to high traffic.