Nexon confirmed that a key stat roll in MapleStory: Idle RPG was mathematically unreachable for weeks; a detail that only surfaced after a quiet fix.
For weeks, MapleStory: Idle RPG players chasing perfect stats were unknowingly locked out of the game’s highest rolls. Nexon has now apologised after confirming a probability error in the game’s ability system, which affected paid rerolls and upgrades.
The issue, which was quietly fixed without prior notice, later escalated into a wider controversy, especially in South Korea, once details became public. Nexon has since announced refunds and compensation for affected players.
MapleStory: Idle RPG probability error and paid stat upgrades explained
According to a report by South Korean outlet The Asia Business Daily, since the game’s launch in November 2025, players reported that the highest possible stat values were not appearing as advertised, even when using paid items to increase abilities. The issue drew further attention after a corrective update was applied without prior notice.
The co-CEOs of Nexon Korea acknowledged the issue by releasing an official statement to the press, stating, "For about a month, from 6 November to 2 December at 6:27 PM KST last year, the maximum value for ability options in Maple Growth did not appear as announced. The responsible department discovered this on December 2 and implemented a corrective patch without informing users."
They added, "The reason the maximum value for ability options did not appear was because the probability in the ability calculation formula should have been set as 'less than or equal to,' but it was mistakenly set as 'less than.' Nexon Korea's management only learned of this issue belatedly on January 25 and take full responsibility."
In practical terms, this meant players attempting to reroll or upgrade abilities during the affected period could not obtain the highest possible stat values, regardless of how many attempts were made. According to Nexon, the probability settings were incorrectly configured so that top-tier results were mathematically unreachable. The company stated that it allegedly identified the issue internally on 2 December and applied a fix without notifying players, with management saying they only became aware of the problem at an executive level on 25 January.
Refunds and compensation announced for affected players
Nexon confirmed that it will refund in-game purchases made during the affected period. Players who used the "Medal of Honor" to reset abilities will receive a full refund, alongside 200% of the paid currency spent on those transactions. Additional in-game items will also be distributed to all users.
On the English-language website, Nexon reiterated its apology, stating: “We would like to once again offer our deepest apologies to all Maplers who trusted and supported MapleStory: Idle RPG for the great disappointment we have caused. Despite identifying an error that had a critical impact on gameplay, we applied a fix without providing prior notice to Maplers. We fully acknowledge our responsibility for this matter, and as a result, we have decided to offer a full refund to all Maplers who wish to receive them.”
The company added that further details on the refund application process and schedule will be shared in a separate notice. Once the refund process is completed, access to the game will be restricted in line with existing service policies, and purchases made after the announcement will not be eligible for a refund.
Nexon also confirmed it is pursuing disciplinary action internally. The co-CEOs stated, "We will conduct a thorough investigation of the responsible party and take all disciplinary actions, including dismissal. We are currently conducting a rigorous review to prevent a recurrence of this issue, and if any further problems are found, we will promptly inform users and take action."
The company said MapleStory: Idle RPG will continue efforts to address the issue, and communicate further updates to players.
