Nexon will hold a global development contest using its key intellectual property and move in earnest to find creators.

Nexon said on May 28 it will hold the "MapleStory Global Development Contest" with total support of about 1.8 billion won.

The contest will be run using the MapleStory IP. Anyone aged 14 or older can submit an entry through the sandbox platform MapleStory World. The entry period runs from June 4 to Oct. 7. Participants should develop a new world by combining eight MapleStory features — growth, exploration, hunting, combat, collection, cooperation, challenge and competition — then submit it after a public release.

Nexon will offer participants various benefits. These include system training materials by game genre, a dedicated Q&A channel for experts and a networking community.

Nexon will also introduce an MSW AI toolkit feature in MapleStory World so participants can focus on development. It plans to support development of new worlds through vibe-coding. It will provide existing creators and participants with resources and code for six original remake worlds made in MapleStory World — Meso Warrior, Maple Dual, Chuchu Burger Branch No. 1, Meto Chess, Miner Simulator and Monster Farm — so they can freely use them to develop new worlds.

Entries will be judged on IP interpretation and expansion, completeness and sustainability, with 30 advancing to the finals. Finalists will receive up to about 50 million won in support, and 7 final winning teams will receive up to about 40 million won in additional support.

Nexon will also run an online boot camp for contest participants on the last Friday of every month from May to July. It plans to offer basic development training and platform training, alongside minigame practice.