" KartRider: Drift" to End Service After 2 Years... "Classic Version in Preparation"

Nexon is shutting down the service for "KartRider: Drift," the ambitious sequel to its flagship title "KartRider," after just over two years.

On June 16, Nexon's subsidiary Nitro Studio announced in a developer note signed by Director Cho Jaeyoon, "After continuously seeking new directions for the sustainability and future of the 'KartRider' intellectual property (IP), we have determined that it will be difficult to provide a satisfactory long-term service. As a result, we have decided to end the service for Drift."

Director Cho added, "Detailed information regarding the termination of the service will be provided in a separate notice," and stated, "To continue the fun of the KartRider IP, a new director is preparing the 'KartRider Classic' service."

"Drift" was a game released by Nexon in January 2023 for both PC and mobile platforms. While it inherited the gameplay of the 2005 flagship title "Crazyracing KartRider" with updated graphics, it received negative reviews as users quickly left after launch. In response to poor performance, the development team repeatedly revamped the game system and, after discontinuing the console and mobile versions, focused solely on the PC version.