MapleStory Players Deceived for a Decade: Nexon Fined $9 Million for Unfair Practices

In a startling revelation, Nexon, the developers of the popular MMO game MapleStory, have been found guilty of manipulating in-game item probabilities, deceiving players for over a decade. The Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has slapped Nexon with a $9 million fine, the largest in its history, for these unfair practices.

The controversy revolves around items known as “cubes,” which players could purchase to potentially enhance their gear. These cubes, introduced in May 2010, were sold for about $1 to $2 each. Players bought these cubes in hopes of obtaining passive boosts or upgrading items to the “Legendary” rarity. However, behind the scenes, Nexon was found to be periodically reducing the odds of obtaining these desirable upgrades, without notifying players.

The KFTC’s investigation, which began in 2021 after Nexon published the rate odds for these cube items, revealed that Nexon had not only reduced the odds of acquiring high-tier upgrades but had also made some combinations of upgrades unattainable. This revelation came after years of speculation and community conjecture, with players sharing their own statistics suggesting that the published odds were not accurate.

Nexon’s malpractices didn’t stop at just manipulating probabilities. When players expressed concerns about the apparent change in odds, Nexon falsely assured them that no alterations were made. In 2011 and again in 2016, Nexon made public statements denying any changes to the odds, despite internal evidence to the contrary.

The investigation also uncovered internal documents and emails within Nexon, revealing discussions about whether to disclose the manipulated rates, with the decision ultimately being not to inform players. Furthermore, Nexon was found to own a patent for dynamic RNG (random number generation) based on player activity, which allowed them to alter probabilities based on various factors, including a player’s activity level and location.

The impact of these manipulations has been significant. From September 2010 to 2021, Nexon earned approximately $420 million through the sale of these cube items. The $9 million fine, while substantial, represents only a small fraction of the revenue generated from these sales.