MapleStory Classic World is heading toward its October 21, 2026 Grand Launch with more than a simple return to old-school MapleStory gameplay. The roadmap revealed at Maple Storyfest 2026 covers housing, seasonal events, a new Victoria Island region, guilds, and longer-term plans for Third Job and the game's first raid boss. For players planning their early progression, understanding these milestones can help them decide where to spend their time, which rewards to prioritize, and when to prepare for new content. Managing your early MapleStory Classic World Mesos budget will also matter as new systems and progression options become available.
The schedule has several distinct stages. Housing is planned for launch day, Forgotten Hollow arrives in November, and guilds are scheduled for December. Third Job testing and the Archon raid remain longer-term goals without confirmed release dates. We'll break down what each stage is expected to bring, which details players should watch, and where the roadmap still leaves unanswered questions.
The roadmap sets out a clear progression from launch features to new regions and social systems, while leaving the biggest long-term milestones open.
Grand Launch: Date, Level Cap, and Housing
The Grand Launch is scheduled for October 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. UTC. The launch build is expected to have a level cap of 100, while equipment progression initially tops out at level 50. The roadmap also includes the Free Market minigame, shop permits, megaphones, Nexon Launcher and Steam support, a Mac client, and Xbox and PlayStation controller compatibility. Spanish and Korean language support have also been announced alongside English, with further language improvements planned. For the announced launch date, see Nexon's MapleStory Classic World pre-launch announcement.
No new worlds were confirmed in the presentation, so players should not assume additional servers will open on launch day.
Housing: A New Classic World Feature
Housing is one of the most notable additions planned for launch. Unlike a conventional cosmetic-only home system, it is tied to citizenship in specific towns.
| Feature | What we know |
|---|---|
| Unlock requirement | Reach Citizenship Level 2 in Henesys or Kerning City |
| Henesys home | A yellow mushroom house |
| Kerning City home | A small basement home in a back alley |
| Decoration limit | Up to 20 decorations in the demonstrated interface |
| Furniture options | Decorations, a storage chest, profession crafting tables, and a straw training dummy |
| Home access | Other players can visit |
| Return option | A home return scroll usable once per hour |
The two homes have different themes, but the more important question is how their functional furniture will fit into everyday play. A storage chest could make inventory management more convenient, while crafting tables may provide a practical reason to maintain a home beyond decorating it. The exact restrictions and acquisition methods for furniture still need confirmation.
For launch preparation, we recommend treating Housing as a system worth exploring rather than assuming it will immediately provide a major progression advantage. The team has indicated that the feature will expand alongside future content, leaving room for additional functionality later.
Launch Rewards and Halloween Events
The launch period includes several events, and players should pay attention to their different requirements and end dates. Some rewards require repeated participation, while others depend on completing a specific collection task.
The Journey Begins: 14 Daily Gifts
The Journey Begins event runs through November 18, 2026, according to the presentation. Characters must be level 10 or higher to speak with the Maple Administrator in Henesys. Players then hunt monsters at level 10 or above to collect Maple Leaves. Turning in 30 leaves grants that day's reward, with one claim available per day.
There are 14 different gifts in total. The presentation showed examples including red potions, blue potions, return scrolls, and a Snail Pet, but the complete day-by-day reward list had not yet been published in the source material.
The important distinction is that players need 14 successful reward claims, not necessarily 14 consecutive login days. That makes the event more forgiving for people balancing the game with work or school. However, players should confirm the daily reset time and final claim deadline before relying on a particular schedule.
Mark of the Beta and Halloween
The launch period also includes a Mark of the Beta event that brings back the Maple Leaf Hat. Its detailed rules were not available in the presentation, so players should wait for the official event instructions before assuming how the hat can be earned.
The Halloween event is scheduled to begin on October 28. The client reportedly shows Malady appearing in Henesys. Characters at level 10 or higher are expected to collect 100 Halloween Candies from monsters, help distribute them to three children, and receive a Pumpkin Basket. Halloween costume themes include witch, mummy, pumpkin, bat, and vampire.
Because the full event rules and rewards were not established in the source material, treat these details as a preview rather than a complete farming guide. Check the live event notice for the duration, repeatability, and any additional requirements.
November Update: Forgotten Hollow and Moon Bunny's Rice Cake
The November update is scheduled for November 18, 2026, with Forgotten Hollow as its headline addition. This new region is designed specifically for Classic World and is located on Victoria Island. Its monsters are reported to range from levels 39 to 59, placing the area within reach of mid-level characters rather than only endgame players.
Exploring Forgotten Hollow
The region has two entrances: one in the tree-tunnel dungeon near Ellinia and another deep within Sleepywood. The area is divided into two broad sections:
- The upper sanctuary: A secluded area inhabited by cave fairies, with an atmosphere suggesting it has been abandoned for years.
- The deeper hollow: A decaying ancient tree and the new field boss, Rotten Mush.
The source material lists Rotten Mush at level 60 with 86,400 HP. Those figures provide an initial indication of the encounter's scale, but they do not tell us its attack patterns, defensive mechanics, drop table, or recommended party size. Players should wait for hands-on testing before treating any specific strategy as established.
The region's other major draw is its story. The developers explained that some Victoria Island narrative threads were left unfinished during the original game's rapid expansion. Forgotten Hollow is intended to revisit that history, including the swordsman Mangji and a character named Archon. It may therefore appeal to both players looking for new hunting areas and longtime fans interested in the world behind familiar NPCs.
Moon Bunny's Rice Cake Party Quest
November also brings back Moon Bunny's Rice Cake, a limited-time party quest planned to run from mid-November into early December. It is expected to open at level 11. Players protect the Moon Bunny while it makes rice cakes on the moon, to collect 10 rice cakes.
The event window is important: unlike permanent progression systems, this party quest is only available for a limited period. The presentation did not establish the exact start and end times, so check the official event schedule before planning around it.
For players who enjoy classic party-based content, this is one of the most immediately relevant additions in the roadmap. It also gives lower-level characters a reason to coordinate with other players rather than treating progression as a purely solo activity.
December Update: Guilds, a New Party Quest, and Happyville
The December update is scheduled for December 9, 2026. It introduces three major additions: the first version of guilds, another Forgotten Hollow party quest, and the return of the Christmas-themed Happyville area.
Guilds Arrive on Victoria Island
Classic World plans to let players create guilds in Lith Harbor, avoiding the trip to Orbis that longtime MapleStory players may remember from the original experience.
The initial guild system focuses on two core functions: creating a guild and designing its emblem. Guild housing and other expanded social features are planned for later rather than being part of the first release.
Several practical details remain unanswered, including the guild member cap, creation cost, and any requirements for changing an emblem. These are worth checking before a group commits resources to establishing a guild. Until the rules are published, we would avoid assuming that the first version includes the full set of social features found in later versions of MapleStory.
Even with those limitations, guilds are an important structural addition. They give regular groups a formal identity and create a foundation for future cooperative systems.
A Second Forgotten Hollow Party Quest
The December update also includes a new party quest in Forgotten Hollow, with a reported minimum level of 41. It continues the region's hidden story, connecting the November expansion to a further stage of its narrative.
The precise objectives, party requirements, and rewards were not detailed in the presentation. Players interested in the quest should therefore treat the level requirement as an early planning reference, not a complete guide to preparation.
Happyville Returns for Christmas
The roadmap also points to Happyville returning for the Christmas season. The presentation showed the familiar festive setting, while game files reportedly contain Happyville-related houses and Christmas tree decorations.
This is a welcome seasonal addition for returning players, but the exact event schedule, activities, and rewards still need confirmation. The presence of assets in the client alone does not establish every detail of the live event.
Third Job, Orbis, and the Archon Raid: What Comes Next
The roadmap's biggest long-term topics are also its least settled. Third Job, the return or expansion of Orbis-related content, and the Archon Raid do not have confirmed release dates in the presentation.
The developers indicated that Third Job still needs refinement. Players had already tested an earlier version during the second test, and the team has been revising it in response to feedback. A dedicated Third Job test server is planned for early 2027, allowing players to try the updated version before its eventual release.
The stated goal is to preserve what makes each class distinct. That matters in a classic-style game, where skill identity, progression choices, and class-specific strengths are central to the experience. A test server should provide a better opportunity to evaluate those changes, but the final skills and launch timing remain unconfirmed.
The team is also working on Archon, described as Classic World's first boss raid. The presentation included a teaser of a party fighting a large boss, but it did not establish a release date, encounter mechanics, party size, or rewards.
For now, players should treat these as active development goals rather than scheduled updates. We recommend following official announcements for test-server registration, class changes, and raid details instead of building a progression plan around an unconfirmed launch window.
Summary: The MapleStory Classic World Roadmap
The roadmap sets out a clear progression from launch features to new regions and social systems, while leaving the biggest long-term milestones open.
| Date | Planned content | What players should do |
|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2026 | Grand Launch and Housing | Explore launch systems and review citizenship requirements |
| October 28, 2026 | Halloween event begins | Check event rules and collect limited-time rewards |
| November 18, 2026 | Forgotten Hollow and November update | Explore the new region and check the party quest schedule |
| December 9, 2026 | Guilds, another party quest, and Happyville | Review guild costs and prepare for seasonal activities |
| Early 2027 | Third Job test server planned | Watch for official testing details |
| Not announced | Archon raid and Orbis-related plans | Wait for confirmed dates and mechanics |
The best approach is to focus first on content with confirmed windows and clear participation requirements. Launch rewards and limited-time party quests can be missed if players leave them too late, while guild features and Third Job will benefit from closer attention to their final rules.
For players also planning their in-game economy, avoid spending resources based solely on assumptions about future systems. If you're comparing progression options or considering where to buy MapleStory GMS Mesos, first establish what the live version actually requires and review the game's current rules. The roadmap gives players a useful outline of what's coming, but official event notices and patch details should remain the final reference for dates, rewards, and mechanics.
