Bandai Namco, a well-known Japanese publisher, has announced that its live-service anime MMO, Blue Protocol, will be shutting down in Japan on January 18, 2025.
Additionally, the international release of the game in Europe and the United States, which was set to be handled by Amazon Games, has also been canceled.
In its announcement, Bandai Namco stated the reasons behind the closure:
“We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Amazon Games throughout the development of Blue Protocol, and both of our teams are disappointed that we will not be able to deliver the game to players around the world. We know there has been great anticipation for Blue Protocol since the first announcement of the game. We wanted to deliver an experience that is like stepping into the world of anime, and we have been challenging ourselves to create a world where each and every player can enjoy adventures as the main character of the anime. We have worked hard to prepare for the release; however, we have come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to provide a service that satisfies all of you.”
Blue Protocol was initially scheduled for a global release in 2023, but only the Japanese version made it to launch. The Western release, which Amazon Games was set to publish, was delayed to 2024.
Unfortunately, the game’s performance in Japan was underwhelming, leading to the decision to cancel further releases. Earlier this year, Bandai Namco reported a significant financial loss of 21 billion yen, largely attributed to Blue Protocol’s poor performance.
Fans have reacted strongly to the news, with many expressing frustration over the long wait and sudden cancellation, as one user says:
“OH COME ON
The western community was waiting YEARS for it to go live, and the Japanese developers were even BANNING western players for playing on the JP server.
And they’re now closing it due to lacking player base, when they never even bothered to release it outside of JP???”
While some fans are disappointed, others have criticized the game for relying too much on character beautification, as one user says:
“Thank you for teaching me that people can’t keep playing a game just because the characters are cute. Goodbye.”
Moving forward, the developer has shared the final roadmap for Blue Protocol leading up to its closure. Unfortunately, players will not be able to receive refunds for the Rose Orbs currency, and purchasing additional currency is no longer an option. However, the company will be distributing 5,000 Rose Orbs every month from September until January, allowing players to acquire cosmetics and other in-game items. Additionally, the newly released battle pass will be available to all players for free.
Meanwhile, Amazon Games is moving forward with other projects. They are set to publish another MMO, the Korean-developed Throne and Liberty, next month (September 17). The company is also collaborating with Embracer Group on a Lord of the Rings MMO, which is still in development. Amazon Games has experience in the MMORPG genre, having previously worked on titles like Lost Ark and New World.
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