After a year since its launch in 2023, Bandai Namco has officially shut down the Japanese servers of Blue Protocol, the anime-style MMORPG that once held high expectations but failed to establish a solid foothold in the market. The decision follows the discontinuation of development in August, which also led to the cancellation of the Western release, initially planned in partnership with Amazon Games, and the South Korean version under Smilegate.
Since its debut, Blue Protocol received criticism for its repetitive gameplay, particularly in the late stages. Despite updates and attempts to revitalize the experience, the game struggled to retain player interest in Japan. In its final days, developers honored the community by sharing fan-generated artwork on the official Twitter account. As a farewell, hundreds of fans gathered in the game’s capital city, engaging in dances and heartfelt interactions before the final Error 121 message confirmed the server shutdown.
However, the Blue Protocol universe is not entirely over. Tencent, through its subsidiary Shanghai Bokura Network Technology, has taken the reins with a new project: Star Resonance, an MMORPG for PC and mobile devices inspired by the same world. Early test phases in China indicate significant improvements in mechanics and design, promising a better experience than the original game. Testers have praised these advancements, sparking anticipation for this upcoming release.
Could Star Resonance be the successor Blue Protocol fans have been waiting for? Only time will tell.
