Originally announced 2026-08-01. Written as part of our launch history series.
On 2026-08-01, the second closed online test of MapleStory Classic World went live. The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline lists it as the second of two closed tests held in 2026. This piece places that test in sequence and states what each date led to.
Before the tests
On 2025-04-01, Nexon revealed MapleStory Classic World in its 20th anniversary developer video. The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline says original designer Nemi led that video. That is the first dated entry in the record.
The three dates before August
- 2026-04-01: The first closed online test went live, according to the mapleclassic.wiki News timeline.
- 2026-06-01: A special trailer aired at IGN Live 2026, per the same timeline.
- 2026-08-01: The second closed online test went live, per the same timeline.
The gap between the first test and the second is four months. The IGN Live trailer sits at the midpoint. The wiki does not list what changed between the two tests beyond the entry below.
What followed the second test
On 2026-08-11, Nexon published a patch adjusting mobility skills. The mapleclassic.wiki patch page records it. The wiki entry in our brief gives no further detail, so this piece does not describe the individual changes.
On 2026-08-21, Grand Launch was set for October 21, 2026. The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline says the date appeared in Nexon's Ossyria Exploration Report. That is twenty days after the second test began. It is the date that ties the test period to the launch.
The path to access
On 2026-09-02, three Founder's Package tiers went on sale: Snail, Orange Mushroom and Zakum. The Nexon Classic World FAQ is the source. Zakum is the name of a package tier. It is not a boss that players can fight at launch.
On 2026-09-29, Nexon published the Classic World FAQ and Founder's Access pre-download instructions. Nexon says the pre-download is available through Nexon Launcher and Steam.
Founder's Access begins on 2026-10-06. The Nexon Classic World FAQ states that players with a qualifying Founder's Package can start on that date. The FAQ also states that progress carries into Grand Launch.
What the sequence shows
The record is short and each step is dated. A reveal came first. Two closed tests followed, with a trailer between them. A launch date was confirmed twenty days after the second test began. Sales, pre-download and early access came after that.
The sources do not say how the test results shaped the October 21 date. Nexon has not stated a link in the material available to us. Any such link would be inference, and this piece does not draw one.
What it means now
It is October 2026. Founder's Access begins on October 6, and Grand Launch is set for October 21. Both dates come from the Nexon Classic World FAQ. The two closed tests are now history. The next dated event is the one Nexon has already confirmed.
Players should rely on Nexon for dates, packages, accounts and platform support. For in-game numbers, mapleclassic.wiki is the reference. Content Nexon has held back is not part of this timeline, and nothing here should be read as describing it as available.
Frequently asked
- When was the second closed online test of MapleStory Classic World?
- The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline lists Closed Online Test 2 as going live on 2026-08-01. The first closed online test went live on 2026-04-01.
- When was the Grand Launch date set?
- The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline says Grand Launch was set for October 21, 2026 on 2026-08-21, in Nexon's Ossyria Exploration Report.
- Does progress from Founder's Access carry into Grand Launch?
- Yes. The Nexon Classic World FAQ states that Founder's Access begins on 2026-10-06 for players with a qualifying Founder's Package and that progress carries into Grand Launch.
