'Kartrider: Drift'./Courtesy of Nexon

Nexon has decided to end the service of the racing game "KartRider: Drift," which was launched in 2023, about two years after its release. Accordingly, Nexon plans to continue the legacy of its existing intellectual property (IP) through a new project called "KartRider Classic."

Nexon subsidiary Nitro Studios officially announced the end of service for "KartRider: Drift" on the 16th through a developer note. Director Jo Jae-yoon noted, "We have been exploring various possibilities for the sustainability and future of the KartRider IP, but we concluded that it would be difficult to provide long-term service, leading to the termination decision."

Director Jo also mentioned, "Although 'KartRider: Drift' is ending, a new director is preparing the service for 'KartRider Classic,'" revealing that a follow-up project is currently in development. Specific details regarding the service termination schedule will be provided through a separate announcement later.

"KartRider: Drift" recreated the gameplay of the highly popular "Crazy Racing KartRider" from 2005 with updated graphics and was simultaneously released on PC and mobile platforms in January 2023. While this game was announced alongside the termination of its predecessor, it faced rapid user attrition and received negative evaluations following its launch.

In response to poor performance, Nexon repeatedly revamped its system, ceasing operations for console and mobile versions and focusing on the PC platform, but ultimately failed to rebound.