Nexon CEO Daehyun Kang Takes Direct Control of MapleStory: Idle RPG After Probability Controversy

Why It Matters

The leadership shift signals Nexon’s commitment to restore player confidence and mitigate regulatory scrutiny, crucial for sustaining revenue in Korea’s competitive mobile‑gaming market.

Key Takeaways

• CEO Kang now heads Maple Division
• Refunds issued for all payments through Jan 28
• Idle RPG faced probability code error affecting stats
• Game topped revenue charts after November 2025 launch
• Nexon pledges comprehensive review and operational overhaul

Pulse Analysis

The appointment of Daehyun Kang to the Maple Division underscores a rare direct‑to‑the‑front response in the Korean gaming sector, where CEOs typically remain removed from day‑to‑day product issues. By placing a co‑CEO at the helm of a troubled title, Nexon aims to accelerate decision‑making, align development resources, and signal accountability to both players and regulators. This hands‑on approach reflects a broader industry trend where transparency and rapid remediation are becoming essential to retain high‑spending user bases.

MapleStory: Idle RPG’s early success—reaching the top revenue spot shortly after its November 2025 launch—demonstrates the lucrative potential of idle‑play monetization models. However, the probability‑error controversy, involving hidden stat caps and undisclosed loot‑box odds, exposed vulnerabilities in Nexon’s quality‑assurance pipelines. The full‑refund policy, unprecedented in Korea’s gaming history, highlights the financial stakes of player trust and the escalating pressure from consumer protection authorities.

Looking ahead, Nexon’s promised comprehensive review will likely focus on three pillars: technical remediation, clearer communication of odds, and a revamped live‑operations framework. Industry observers expect tighter internal controls and possibly third‑party audits to prevent repeat incidents. Successful execution could restore the game’s revenue trajectory and set a benchmark for crisis management, while failure may erode Nexon’s brand equity across its broader portfolio.

Nexon CEO Daehyun Kang Takes Direct Control of MapleStory: Idle RPG After Probability Controversy

Doohyun “Biit” Lee · Feb 2 2026

Nexon announced on the 2nd via an internal notice that Daehyun Kang, co‑CEO of Nexon Korea, will concurrently serve as head of the Maple Division.

The Maple Division is a core organization responsible for the development and live operations of games based on the MapleStory IP. The appointment is widely interpreted as a move to hold leadership accountable for the recent probability‑error controversy and operational missteps in MapleStory: Idle RPG, and as a signal that management intends to step in directly to contain and resolve the situation.

Nexon’s leadership said that with Kang taking on the division‑head role, it will conduct a comprehensive review of all aspects of MapleStory: Idle RPG’s service operations and improve the development environment and internal processes. The company’s stated plan is to concentrate all support and investment needed for the game to regain player trust and “relaunch” as a stable, properly run service.

MapleStory: Idle RPG is an idle mobile game co‑developed by Nexon and Able Games and released in November 2025. Immediately after launch, it reached No. 1 in revenue on both major app marketplaces, but probability‑related controversies have persisted since early this year. In particular, the game drew criticism after it emerged that the maximum possible value for Ability stats—rerolled using paid currency—did not appear for a full month after launch due to a code error, and that the issue was then altered without proper disclosure.

The controversy also intensified due to issues where the character attack‑speed stat was not reflected in actual performance, as well as the failure to disclose probabilities for a paid item, the “Quick Hunt Ticket.” In response, Nexon decided to issue full refunds for all payments made through January 28. This is a large‑scale refund action that is difficult to find precedent for in the history of Korea’s game industry.

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.