Nexon, led by co-CEOs Kang Dae Hyun and Kim Jung Wook, has officially launched "Durango: Lost Island", a new original world within its sandbox platform MapleStory World, on February 5, 2025. This marks the revival of the "Durango: Wild Lands" universe, reimagined in a 2D survival-adventure format.
Originally introduced in 2018, "Durango: Wild Lands" gained a dedicated fan base with its open-world survival MMORPG mechanics. Now, Nexon brings its core exploration and survival elements back in "Durango: Lost Island," incorporating familiar themes such as prehistoric creatures, mysterious anomalies, and resource-based survival mechanics. First teased through a trailer in December 2024, the game features a single-player survival adventure, where players must navigate through harsh environments, overcome anomalies, and explore islands alongside genetically restored dinosaur companions.
The game offers ten islands, each with distinct climates, including grasslands, tropical jungles, tundras, and deserts. Players will encounter over 30 types of dinosaurs, each possessing unique attack patterns and survival traits. Among them, nine colossal dinosaurs, including the Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus, and Triceratops, serve as island bosses. These rare, powerful creatures only appear when an "anomaly event" occurs on an island, offering high-risk, high-reward hunting opportunities. Defeating them grants dinosaur DNA and rare crafting materials, essential for progression.
Survival extends beyond combat, with an extensive crafting and resource-gathering system. Players can harvest environment-specific materials, such as tropical mud (exclusive to jungle biomes) or obsidian (found only in deserts), to craft armor and weapons like bark armor and bone axes. Additionally, they can prepare food with stat-boosting effects, including date palm tea and stone-grilled dishes, engage in farming, and construct customized buildings to establish a personalized Durango settlement.
To celebrate the launch, Nexon is hosting a login event until February 18, rewarding daily players with exclusive items, including Special DNA, Revival Kits, and Animal Trait Lock Tokens.
More details about "Durango: Lost Island" and "MapleStory World" can be found on Nexon's official website and YouTube channel.
Sayart / Jack Lee, wangjb77@gmail.com
