AVAX Surge as MapleStory Embraces Web3 Gaming with Avalanche Subnet
MapleStory to deploy game on Avalanche subnet, causes AVAX token to rise 14% in 24 hours.
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AVAX token has increased 14% in the last 24 hours after South Korean game developer Nexon Group announced it would launch its popular game MapleStory on the network.
MapleStory expansion to the Avalanche network is a result of Nexon Group's partnership with Ava Labs. According to the announcement, the 2D mass multiplayer online role-playing game will have its subnet on Avalanche.
For Avalanche, it represents another milestone in the series of adoption by gaming studios. The layer-1 network recently onboarded the Gunzilla cyberpunk shooter game Off the Grid. Other games on the network include DeFi Kingdom, Monsterra, and Crabada.
AVAX rose as high as $48.41 today, according to CoinMarketCap. But it has now dropped slightly to around $47. The asset is up 15% year to date.
MapleStory Coming to Web3
Per the announcement, MapleStory will have its subnet on the Avalanche network called MapleStory Universe. This will allow the game to fully leverage Avalanche technology and build a full suite of web3 tools for gamers in the long-term.
MapleStory is one of the biggest MMORPG games globally and has been around since 2003. With over 180 million sign-ups since its creation, the game still records over 400,000 users daily.
The flagship blockchain game would be MapleStory N, which is set to launch later this year. Players can build out the MapleStory rewards and earn rewards such as non-fungible tokens through the game. The game developer also plans to release a PC version by the end of the year.
By taking advantage of the Avalanche subnet, the game will have its specific platform within the network. This ensures that players enjoy a seamless gaming experience with improved scalability.
The subnets are immune to lags during peak activity on the layer-1 network. They will also have improved interoperability due to the recent Durango upgrade and Teleporter tool.
Why Avalanche
The game developer explained its decision to adopt Avalanche, noting that the network has onboarded several Web3 games.
"MapleStory Universe has migrated to Avalanche for the network's security and how successfully Avalanche has onboarded and supported various Web3 games over the years," a MapleStory executive said.
Meanwhile, the partnership with Avalanche is not Nexon's first foray into the Web3 space. The game developer chose Polygon to power its blockchain ecosystem in 2023.
MapleStory's partnership with Avalanche will also involve hosting a joint panel at the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco later this month. The panel, which will discuss the potential of blockchain technology for games, emphasizes Nexon's commitment to Web3 gaming.
