Nexpace Bans Thousands of Accounts to Combat Hackers in MapleStory N

MapleStory N, a multiplayer online role-playing game built on the Avalanche blockchain, has taken significant action against hackers and bots that have been plaguing the game since its launch in May. The game's developer, Nexpace, the blockchain arm of gaming giant Nexon, has banned thousands of accounts suspected to be controlled by malicious actors. This move is aimed at maintaining the game's integrity for legitimate players.

Keith Kim, the head of strategy at Nexpace, revealed that the banning process has been ongoing throughout the week, with thousands of accounts being banned daily. The high stakes involved in crypto games make them particularly attractive targets for hackers and exploiters. MapleStory N players have the opportunity to earn real digital assets through gameplay, making the illegal activities of these malicious actors even more lucrative.

Reports from MapleStory N users indicate an increase in bot accounts, with many lobbies filled with bots auto-farming. One user even reported an abuser who solo defeated the endgame boss, highlighting a significant flaw in the game's security. Kim emphasized the severity of the issue, stating that the number of attacks MapleStory N has been receiving is larger than the entire Nexo game ecosystem.

MapleStory N is the first entry in the wider MapleStory Universe, a crypto ecosystem utilizing the two-decade-old MapleStory IP, which has a massive following. The game's launch resulted in a significant increase in active addresses on Avalanche, delivering one of the biggest NFT mints the network has ever seen.

Nexpace is deploying several measures to combat these malicious actors. One of the challenges is the low entry barrier of MapleStory N, which allows hackers to create new wallets and continue playing within seconds of being banned. To address this, the game has implemented a 30-hour delay in cashing out assets, preventing malicious actors from quickly benefiting from their illegal activities.

In addition to banning thousands of accounts daily, Nexpace is enhancing its security systems and improving its abnormal play detection to catch malicious actors more effectively. The platform is also restricting off-ramps from its dedicated Avalanche L1 gaming network, Henesys, to isolate any damage caused by hackers. If hackers are banned, the funds they obtained are rendered useless. If the issue persists, Nexspace will use its clawback function to allow developers to take back assets tied to banned accounts.

Kim explained that these measures are audited and controlled by different layers of a multi-sig wallet, making them difficult to trigger. However, if a significant volume of macro assets is tied or frozen within the Henesys L1, Nexspace can perform housekeeping to return this value to the gamers. Kim also mentioned that the community's opinion will be sought before using the clawback function, but it is worth considering due to the low amount of assets stranded by banned players.