The deployment of genome editing, notably CRISPR/Cas9, in maize breeding catalyzed the meticulous introgression of desirable agronomic traits, thereby conferring enhanced disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, and abiotic stress tolerance. Multiplex genome editing allowed the modification of several genes at the same time, accelerating the development of elite maize varieties with optimized phenotypic profiles. In addition, genome editing has been used in waxy maize to improve its quality and functioning. Latest advancements in transformation-free genome-editing approaches, such as CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery, have reduced the need for transgenic intermediates, which enables the fast production of genetically modified crops. The base and prime editing have accelerated the gene editing potential by specific trait improvement with exceptional accuracy due to their precision and effectiveness. However, challenges related to genetically engineered maize for practical implementation include environmental risks and potential off-target effects. Ethical concerns for CRISPR-edited maize have evolved, particularly the discussions for how to categorize and label these genome modified crops. The incorporation of genome editing and double haploid technology, and also progresses in HI-Edit technology, has revolutionized maize breeding, speed up the developments of elite lines with precise traits. By addressing the challenges related with stable integration and transgene-free techniques, genome editing has significantly improved the maize productivity and resilience, playing a major contribution to the world’s food security and promoting green agriculture.