By Sagar V. Mankar 
In August, Bandai Namco and Amazon Games officially announced the cancellation of Blue Protocol, an anime-style MMORPG that struggled to gain traction in Japan and never made it to Western markets. Despite being in development since 2015, the game failed to meet expectations and is set to be permanently taken offline in January 2025.
However, this might not be the end of the road for Blue Protocol. Recently, Shanghai Bokura Technology, a subsidiary of Tencent, revealed an upcoming MMORPG titled Star Resonance. Designed for both PC and mobile platforms, Star Resonance strongly resembles Blue Protocol, sparking curiosity among fans about its connection to the canceled game.
According to a report by Simulation Daily, Bandai Namco has officially licensed Blue Protocol to Tencent’s Shanghai Bokura. The report highlights that Star Resonance shares many similarities with Blue Protocol, hinting at a spiritual successor rather than a completely separate title.
Interestingly, a press release from Shanghai Bokura, published several months ago, confirmed a collaboration with the original Blue Protocol development team from Bandai Namco. While the name Star Resonance wasn’t mentioned at the time, the game was described as being “based on the worldview” of Blue Protocol, yet distinct enough to stand as its own title.
The same press release outlined a project referred to as “PROJECT SKY BLUE,” a collaborative effort between Bandai Namco Online Inc. and Bandai Namco Studios Inc. This initiative aimed to create a global entertainment IP with Blue Protocol serving as one of its central pillars. The press release hinted at multiple creative expansions, with Star Resonance possibly being one of them.
The first trailer for Star Resonance has already been released, and the visual and gameplay similarities to Blue Protocol are hard to ignore. From character designs to combat mechanics, it feels like a refined continuation of what Blue Protocol aspired to be.
Whether Star Resonance will successfully capture the audience that Blue Protocol could not remains to be seen. For now, anticipation is building, and fans are eager to see how this project unfolds.
For more updates, stay tuned to official announcements and keep an eye on industry reports.
Sources: Simulation Daily, Shanghai Bokura Press Release