Originally announced 2026-08-21. Written as part of our launch history series.
On 2026-08, Nexon fixed the date. The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline lists August 21, 2026 as the day "Launch dates set". Nexon's Ossyria Exploration Report named October 21, 2026 as Grand Launch for MapleStory Classic World.
Where the date sits in the timeline
The wiki timeline places the announcement within a longer run of events.
- 2025-04-01: Nexon revealed MapleStory Classic World in its 20th anniversary developer video, led by original designer Nemi.
- 2026-04-01: Closed Online Test 1 went live.
- 2026-06-01: A trailer aired at IGN Live 2026.
- 2026-08-01: Closed Online Test 2 went live.
- 2026-08-11: Nexon published a patch adjusting mobility skills.
- 2026-08-21: Grand Launch was set for October 21, 2026.
The report came ten days after the mobility patch and twenty days after the second closed test began.
What the date confirmed
The Nexon Classic World FAQ states that Grand Launch opens Classic World to everyone on October 21, 2026. It also states that Founder's Access begins on October 6, 2026 for players with a qualifying Founder's Package. Progress made in Founder's Access carries into Grand Launch, according to the FAQ.
That gives Founder's Access a fifteen-day window before the public opening. The window is a calculation from the two confirmed dates. Nexon has not described it in those terms.
What followed the report
The announcement came before the other launch details. The Nexon Classic World FAQ states that three Founder's Package tiers went on sale on 2026-09-02: Snail, Orange Mushroom and Zakum. Nexon news shows that on 2026-09-29 the company published the FAQ and Founder's Access pre-download instructions for Nexon Launcher and Steam.
What the launch contains
The launch scope is confirmed. The wiki lists two continents: Maple Island for levels 1 to 10 and Victoria Island for level 10 and up. Victoria Island's towns are Henesys, Ellinia, Perion, Kerning City, Lith Harbor and Sleepywood.
- Four job branches (Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Thief) plus Beginner, with first and second job advancement.
- 66 monsters, including six bosses.
- 221 quests.
- Crafting with six professions, party quests, a Citizenship system, guilds and the Free Market.
Classic World runs inside the existing Global MapleStory (GMS) client. It is available on Nexon Launcher or Steam, with a macOS beta and gamepad support.
What is not in the launch
Nexon has held back several things. Orbis, El Nath and the rest of Ossyria are not part of launch. Nexon says they will be reworked and introduced gradually after launch. Third job advancement is not available at launch. Nothing from after the Big Bang update is part of Classic World. That excludes Pirates, Cygnus Knights, Aran, Evan and later continents.
Zakum is the name of the top Founder's Package tier. There is no Zakum boss fight at launch. The six launch bosses are Mano, King Slime, Mushmom, Zombie Mushmom, Rotten Mushmom and Jr. Balrog.
What remains unannounced
The facts we hold give dates, not times. They do not state a start time for Founder's Access on October 6 or for Grand Launch on October 21. Nexon has not given a time in the material cited here. Players should check Nexon's channels for it. We will not guess.
What it means now
Today is October 2026. Founder's Access has begun or is about to, and Grand Launch is weeks away. The August 21 report is the point where the schedule became fixed. The sale, FAQ and pre-download that followed all rest on it. The launch scope is defined, and the held-back content is clearly marked as later.
Frequently asked
- When did Nexon set the Grand Launch date?
- The mapleclassic.wiki News timeline lists August 21, 2026 as the day Nexon's Ossyria Exploration Report set Grand Launch for October 21, 2026.
- When does Founder's Access begin?
- The Nexon Classic World FAQ states that Founder's Access begins on October 6, 2026 for players with a qualifying Founder's Package, and that progress carries into Grand Launch.
- Is the Zakum boss available at launch?
- No. Zakum is the name of the top Founder's Package tier. The six launch bosses are Mano, King Slime, Mushmom, Zombie Mushmom, Rotten Mushmom and Jr. Balrog.
