Verse8 announced on the 8th that it is collaborating with NEXPACE, Nexon's blockchain subsidiary, to onboard the global mega-IP 'MapleStory' onto its platform.

The two companies have launched 'MSU Space,' a dedicated creation environment where users can build games using official 'MapleStory' assets, including characters, monsters, items, backgrounds, and BGM. NEXPACE participated as a strategic investor in Verse8's seed round last March, and this collaboration marks the first result of their partnership expanding from investment to IP cooperation.

The launch of this space is part of the 'MSU 2' strategy announced by NEXPACE in May. 'MSU 2' embodies the vision of transforming the 'MapleStory' IP from something players simply consume into something they can create and nurture together.

'MSU Space' supports features that allow users to directly call official resources and automatically convert natural language prompts into game code. Even users without development experience can create and globally distribute a game within minutes by entering a single line of command.

To mark the launch, the two companies are co-hosting a three-week global game jam, 'MapleStory Vibe Camp,' from the 8th to the 29th, with a total prize pool of $60k. The final winners will be announced on July 22. The awards are divided into five categories, including 'The Campfire,' which evaluates player retention, and 'The Base Camp,' which assesses value within the builder ecosystem.

Side events include a vision talk on the 9th featuring Verse8 CEO Kevin Lee and NEXPACE COO Keith Kim, followed by an online workshop on the 11st.

Since its launch in July 2024, Verse8 has recorded 3.5 million monthly active users, over 5k active builders, and 25k cumulative games. In March, the company secured $5 million in funding from investors including NEXPACE, Story Foundation, NEOWIZ, and MARBLEX.

NEXPACE CEO Hwang Sun-young stated, "As AI lowers the barrier to entry for game development, the boundary between players and builders is becoming fluid. This collaboration is an important first step for the community to engage with and expand upon legacy IP in new ways."

Kevin Lee, CEO of NEXPACE, stated, "Creating a high-quality game with an IP on the level of 'MapleStory' previously required the capital, production time, and specialized development talent of a large studio," adding, "We are now enabling creators and individual builders to develop fully playable games using natural language prompts."