Hello, this is the MapleStory Worlds Team,

We would like to inform you of the change in criteria for determining World play availability.

As announced in the v1.24.0 update patch notes on April 23, we previously shared that the GetAccountRegion() function has been added to the creator’s User Information, and that the condition for determining a player's eligibility to play in a World would be changed.

*(Current) Based on the player's account registration region → (Updated) Based on the player's access region

Final review of the implementation schedule has been completed, and the change is currently scheduled for the end of July.

If you would like to restrict access to your World for players from specific regions, additional preparations may be necessary before this change takes effect. Please carefully review this notice and consider it in light of your World’s policies. If you decide to implement restrictions, we recommend updating or relaunching your World in alignment with the new schedule to prevent access from players from unintended regions.

For more details, please refer to the information below.

World Play Availability Criteria Update

The GetAccountRegion() has been provided to the creator’s User Information during the April 23 update.
- You can determine the account’s registration region (whether Korea or Global) using GetAccountRegion()
- This information is provided to help address abnormal player issues from regions where World service is not offered. For Global service, regions are categorized into three different zones.
  - Detailed information can be found in the AccountRegion guide document.
With the availability of a player's AccountRegion data, the criteria for determining World play availability will change as follows:
- (Current) Based on the player's account registration region → (Updated) Based on the player's access region
- After the change, when a player attempts to access a World, the system will verify whether the region from which the player is currently accessing the World matches the region where the World is officially supported. World access will be determined based on this match.
⚠️ Due to this change, preparation may be necessary if you would like to restrict access for players from certain regions.
- There is a possibility that players who registered in a region not supported by your World may bypass restrictions by manipulating their access environment and enter the World.
- If you want to prevent such unintended access, we recommend verifying and implementing any necessary configurations before the criteria change takes effect so that players registered in unsupported regions are properly restricted from playing in your World.
- Please understand that we are unable to provide detailed implementation instructions as the technical configurations vary across different Worlds.
- To support your understanding during the preparation process, here is an example of a scenario before and after the criteria change:
  - Criteria:
    1) Account A: A player who registered in the Korea region and uses a tool to set their access region to Global West region
    2) World B: A World that is only available in the Global West region
  - Scenario: Account A attempts to enter World B
  - Before/After Changes and Preparation

(Current) Account A cannot enter World B
(After Criteria Change) Account A can enter B
(After Criteria Change + Creator Preparation) Account A cannot enter World B

Thank you,

- The MapleStory Worlds Team