A critical error has occurred in MapleStory Idle. There was an issue where the maximum possible stats did not appear in the 'Ability' system, a growth feature where players can change option values using paid currency. The service operated in this state for about a month, and the failure to notify users about the fix has damaged trust in the game's operation. In response, Nexon CEOs Kang Dae-hyun and Kim Jung-wook have issued an official apology and provided detailed information.

In MapleStory Idle, 'Abilities' are stat options that unlock sequentially when players open the 'Warrior's Power' using 'Warrior's Tokens'. Players can consume the paid currency, 'Medals of Honor', to change the grade, type, and value of these options. Although suspicions were raised shortly after the November 6 launch that the maximum option values were not appearing, there was no official response at the time; it has now been confirmed that the maximum values were indeed not appearing due to an error.

In an official notice posted on the MapleStory Idle website on January 26, Nexon CEOs Kang Dae-hyun and Kim Jung-wook explained: "From November 6 (the launch of MapleStory Idle) to December 2 at 6:27 PM, the maximum Ability option values did not appear as advertised for about a month. The department in charge discovered this on December 2 and proceeded with a fix without notifying users. Furthermore, although users sent inquiries regarding their suspicions, we provided inaccurate responses because we had not accurately grasped the situation."

The CEOs explained that the error occurred because the probability calculation for the maximum value was incorrectly set to 'less than' instead of 'less than or equal to'. As mentioned, since paid currency is required to change Ability options, any related error should have been transparently communicated via patch notes, and compensation should have been provided immediately. However, the explanation only came on January 26, nearly two months after December 2.

The two CEOs stated, "As this is a collaborative service with an external developer (Able Games), Nexon's real-time probability monitoring system did not apply, which is why it was not detected early on." They added, "The manager in charge of MapleStory Idle at Nexon Korea, fearing a severe loss of trust early in the service, proceeded with the fix without informing users. The management of Nexon Korea only learned of this on January 25, and we take full responsibility for this."

Nexon has announced follow-up measures, including disciplinary action against those responsible. The CEOs stated, "First, we plan to take all disciplinary measures, including termination, against the manager in charge of MapleStory Idle after an investigation. We are conducting an intensive re-examination of the entire development and service process to ensure such an incident does not happen again."

In particular, Nexon has established a principle that for "all games serviced in the future," if player trust is damaged, they will provide maximum compensation that exceeds the costs incurred. For MapleStory Idle, they will provide both compensation and refunds.

Regarding compensation, all currency spent on Abilities from November 6 of last year to December 2 at 6:27 PM will be converted and provided to each user. Additionally, all users will receive 100,000 Medals of Honor and 50 Miracle Cubes. Details regarding the refund process are being prepared and will be announced to users once finalized.

Beyond the Ability error, issues regarding the attack speed option not being applied were also raised in MapleStory Idle. Nexon explained on the 20th that there was a phenomenon where attack speed functioned differently from the displayed value due to skill action frame limits set for game environment stabilization.

In a follow-up notice on the 25th, they mentioned that they are preparing a compensation system that reduces the next skill activation time for the time lost due to frame limits, thereby establishing a foundation to reflect attack speed while ensuring stability. This patch will be applied on the 29th.

Furthermore, regarding the attack speed issue, all users will receive 50 Miracle Cubes and 50,000 Medals of Honor, and individual compensation will be provided to users who spent currency for attack speed options based on their usage.

MapleStory Idle was a hit, reaching No. 1 in sales immediately after launch, but it now faces a major hurdle due to this incident. Critics argue that this undermines Nexon's efforts to emphasize transparent operations following the 2021 'MapleStory Cube' incident. Coincidentally, January 28 is the date for the first-instance ruling on the fine cancellation lawsuit filed by Nexon against the Fair Trade Commission.