The inaugural day of MapleStory Day—a unique collaboration between Nexon’s MapleStory and the KBO League’s KT Wiz—was called off on June 20 as persistent monsoon rains swept through. A series of character-driven activations had been slated to unfold at Suwon Baseball Stadium, but the rain-soaked cancellation left many fans disappointed.

The matchup had carried extra intrigue, since it would have pitted Nexon’s flagship title, MapleStory, against NCSoft’s NC Dinos in an indirect, cross-company showdown. That anticipatory clash, however, will now have to wait.

MapleStory Day is scheduled to resume on June 21, with highlights including the franchise mascot Pink Bean taking the mound for the ceremonial first pitch, alongside a full lineup of themed attractions for attendees. That said, with the monsoon season still in full swing, organizers warn that further rain delays remain a possibility.

Nexon expects that this collaboration will serve as an opportunity to showcase new possibilities for the MapleStory IP.

According to a Nexon representative, they planned this Brand Day to extend the memories and experiences that MapleStory—now celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year—has accumulated into an offline space. They hope that merging the everyday enjoyment of baseball with MapleStory will deliver fresh fun and emotion.

They selected KT Wiz as a partner because there was a shared belief that bringing together the distinct realms of gaming and sports would deliver a novel fan experience. The decisive factor in the collaboration was the assessment that it could evolve beyond a simple event into a multifaceted partnership.

The core objective of this collaboration is to demonstrate the extensibility and diversity of the MapleStory IP. Their goal is for a wide audience to experience the IP, not only existing gamers but also general spectators visiting the baseball stadium.

Nexon analyzed that game fandom and baseball fandom share two core elements—“immersion” and “cheering.” Just as players immerse themselves in their game characters, baseball fans pour deep affection into the teams they support and breathe in sync with every play. On this basis, Nexon hopes that “MapleStory Day” will provide an opportunity for fandoms from different cultures to discover a new common ground.

During the design process for merchandise—such as uniforms featuring MapleStory characters—the primary focus was on harmoniously blending the identities of both brands. The team preserved MapleStory’s signature charm and characters like Pink Bean while incorporating KT Wiz’s team colors and symbols, ensuring that both fanbases would respond enthusiastically. To achieve this balance, Nexon worked in close consultation with the KT Wiz organization from the initial concept phase all the way through to the final product.

Meanwhile, the commemorative items released on May 30—cheering towels, light sticks, and cold cups—have already proven hugely popular among fans, and word is that KT Wiz players Jang Sung-woo, Heo Kyoung-min, and Ahn Hyun-min even purchased the merchandise themselves.