First-Floor Openness and Prime Gangnam Station Location: Nexon Opens Its First PC Cafe 'Maple Ajit'

'MapleStory' IP-Themed PC Cafe Opens
177 Seats, Character Merchandise and Food & Beverage on Sale
"Expanding Public Touchpoints and Serving as a Branding Space"

"We decided to open 'Maple Ajit' here because of the high foot traffic, convenient transportation access, and the open feel of a first-floor location. Our goal is to create a complex cultural space where users can enjoy games and interact with each other."

Nexon has opened its first permanent PC cafe themed around its flagship title 'MapleStory'-called 'Maple Ajit'-right in the heart of Gangnam Station in Seoul.

Exterior view of Nexon's 'Maple Ajit,' a permanent PC cafe themed around the 'MapleStory' IP, located near Exit 4 of Gangnam Station in Seoul. Photo by Kyungjo Noh

When you exit Gangnam Station (Subway Line 2 and Shinbundang Line) through Exit 4 and look to your left, you can immediately see the entrance to Maple Ajit on the first floor of the building. Scheduled to officially open on October 18, Maple Ajit is a permanent PC cafe decorated with the 'MapleStory' intellectual property (IP) theme by Nexon.

At a media event held at Maple Ajit on October 17, Lee Dongyeol, Head of Business at Nexon, explained, "We considered other high-traffic areas like Hongdae, Seongsu, and Jamsil, but this was the only location where, unlike most PC cafes, customers wouldn't need to go downstairs or upstairs. Since it's rare to find a PC cafe on the first floor, we saw advantages in terms of accessibility and promotion."

The PC cafe has a total of 177 seats, including a premium room (4 seats) and a team room (5 seats). These rooms offer higher specs compared to general seating, with upgraded PC CPUs, RAM, and monitors, and are available by reservation. Lee emphasized that the space is equipped to ensure a comfortable gaming experience for a variety of games. Near the entrance, there is a store selling merchandise such as character-themed desk mats, keycaps, keyboards, and headsets, as well as a small stage for various events.

Food and beverage orders are also available, with menu items inspired by the IP, such as Orange Mushroom Grapefruit Orange Ade, Stone Spirit Pistachio Smoothie, and Nemi's Lunchbox. Even the spoons are engraved with characters, making the entire space feel like MapleStory.

General seating inside 'Maple Ajit'. Photo by Noh Kyungjo

Nexon plans to further solidify the power of its IP through Maple Ajit. Lee stated, "Maple Ajit is a space for users who enjoy this IP game, but also an offline community for all gamers. We hope it becomes a place not just for gaming and dining, but also for seeing, feeling, and interacting with 'MapleStory.'"

Previously, Nexon opened 'Cafe MapleStory' at the Nexon Computer Museum in Jeju last year. This move further expands the status of 'MapleStory,' which is growing as a leading franchise IP, into the offline world. The ability to commercialize its cute characters also played a significant role.

A Nexon representative highlighted, "'MapleStory' achieved a 25% market share in PC cafes nationwide during its June update this year, demonstrating its continued influence among gamers." The representative added, "As the second flagship space, the PC cafe is a place where many gamers gather and interact, making it the most effective choice for delivering the 'MapleStory' IP experience. Even those who do not play the game can find the space appealing."

To celebrate the opening of Maple Ajit, Nexon is running an event until November 2, featuring popular creators such as Segulja and Gamst working as part-time staff at the PC cafe.