What Happened to the Popular Blue Protocol MMO Game?
Blue Protocol was the MMO game that seemingly came out of nowhere. This MMORPG with anime vibes swept you to a vibrant and colorful world of Regnas, the world that was already standing on its last legs, was filled with mystery and the right place for adventure as well. Made by a Bandai Namco company, a free-to-play game of this kind was targeted at having action-packed combat, unique character customization, and an exceptional story in the form of a multiplayer game without losing the feeling of your favorite anime series. The BandurArt team wants to explore the unique story of game development with the exploration of Blue Protocol.
Blue Protocol was launched only in Japan, on July 14, 2023, through PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, is one of the most significant events in this story, but not the only one. After its 2019 announcement, it had taken years for players to get used to the idea that Bandai Namco would release a game that would allow them to mingle with other players without paying for this privilege. And that the game would have all the traditional MMORPG elements such as characters and combat skills but would look like an anime cartoon.
The Story Behind the Game’s Collapse
The game was disclosed at The Game Awards 2022, along with the partnership with Amazon Games to be released in the West, the excitement we were feeling was over the moon at that point. The game also fetched over 600,000 players to the servers in Japan in just one week after the Asian release. It quickly became the title with the highest rate of growth among all Bandai Namco online games back in the day.
The crisis set in a lot sooner than was expected. Already in 2024, only a few players roamed around the game world while Bandai Namco Financials announced an unbelievable 8.2 billion yen loss, which was an increase from 3.9 billion yen in the last year. The reasons why the game did not meet the expectations were that Bandai Namco did not bring enough new content besides the exceedingly wearisome gameplay. In addition, there were too many lags and bugs. As a result, the game left the taste of bitterness in the mouths of many players.
On August 28, 2024, Bandai Namco made public their decision to shut the Japanese servers on January 18, 2025, and announced the cancellation of the planned Western version. This move has caused a great deal of disappointment among fans. It was a difficult time for Bandai Namco to handle the situation in a way that did not move with the Western release of the Blue Protocol game. Most fans have been left hurting because of the incident.
They promised gamers the new version of the game called Blue Protocol: Star Resonance. In December 2024, Tencent-backed Shanghai Bokura launched a revival campaign, announcing that Blue Protocol would be a PC and mobile game due out in 2025. This new version of this MMO game with stunning backgrounds, like its predecessor, will be built on Unreal Engine 4 and will work to solve any issues while holding onto the anime atmosphere.
What Made Blue Protocol Unique?
Surprisingly, Blue Protocol, with its lively anime aesthetic and its player-centered undertaking, was able to shine through in an extremely crowded MMORPG market. The following outstanding features can be explored further in the new version of the game:
- Anime-Inspired Visuals. Blue Protocol’s cel-shade graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4 allowed Regnas to be presented in a way that was never before seen in the genre. The rich landscapes, the bright magical places, and the detailed characters complemented each other. The different parts of the world felt like they were all from different anime movies;
- Deep Customization. Players had the freedom to design and decide exactly how they wanted their characters to look, from the facial features and hairstyles, and the types of clothes, accessories, and mounts. The creator system literally competed with the best games of the genre allowing the users to experience their anime protagonist fancies;
- Action-Packed Combat. Weapons-based like Blade Warden, Twin Striker, and Foe Breaker were there for the players to choose and they were easily recognizable. The classes were switchable at any moment to open up a world of possibilities for the players, who were now more willing to try out their roles instead of getting locked into one.
Story: An Anime Epic with Untapped Potential
Blue Protocol’s plotline focused on a hero in Regnas, a world that was shrouded in a mysterious light substance called Engram. The aim was to explore the place and your background, so you would encounter some very vivid characters from different places and be confronted with a fate that can’t be avoided.
The story had anime-like clichés like too much drama, old civilizations (the Bafarians), and a mix of science and spirituality. We watched all the cutscenes like a movie and listened to the voice of your character, which made the cutscenes more personal.
It did run into some problems, though. Here and there the journey in the Blue Protocol story was too typical. It was quite an adventure to experience, but it lacked the writing of Final Fantasy XIV or Genshin’s world-building. Star Resonance may give us a new turn in the story, although it still connects to finding out about your origins but with different characters and a wider scope. Bokura’s team appears to listen to the player’s opinions and can present a more complex and varied storyline. Hopefully.
Gameplay: A Mixed Bag of Action and Grind
In real-time battles, you could pick from such classes as Foe Breaker (tank), Blade Warden (melee DPS), and Spell Weaver (mage). All class abilities were connected to weapons, and the option to change classes at any time was given, which led to more experimenting. But constant skill rotation and awkward gameplay (for example, too much use of the “icicle” spell) had made the battles boring and repetitive.
Regnas was a delight for the eyes, as there were open-world maps rich in secrets, chests, and massive bosses. But despite fishing and crafting, the absence of side quests was disappointing, the joy of exploration was not there.
The game allowed players to play individually, get involved in 6-player dungeons and 30-player raids, and also enabled rare open-world bosses to appear to form epic group battles. However, the absence of PvP and limited social features caused frustration in the hearts of some players.
Some fans are already exploring the depth of the gameplay in Blue Protocol despite its temporary transition. Check out the Reddit thread dedicated to the Blue Protocol MMO game.
Why Was Blue Protocol Canceled?
Fans of Blue Protocol felt a major disappointment when the game was canceled in 2025, but the situation was predictable. A few things led to the fall of this game:
- Repetitive Gameplay Loop. The game had a structure that was too grindy, requiring them to go through the same content multiple times to move forward. The developers admitted that they had created a loop with a leisurely pace that was not appreciated by the casual gamers they had unwittingly attracted;
- Insufficient Content Updates. Blue Protocol did pretty well at the beginning, keeping a record of the new updates became the game’s major problem. Even though at the time of the launch, the myriad of bugs, unfair balancing, and absence of engaging side missions made the players feel less motivated, especially with the regular content updates of competitors like Genshin Impact in mind;
- Financial Struggles. The insolvency of Bandai Namco Online, with a loss of 8.2 billion yen by the end of March 2024, ultimately meant that the story of the Blue Protocol game has come to an end. The costs of maintaining the servers and the decreasing count of players in Japan were the main reasons for the discontinuation of the game.
The deal with Amazon Games, on the other hand, created a different conversation. According to the backlash of some fans on X, Amazon was accused of censorship and creative control, without any proof, though, so these claims remain just fan-fueled allegations.
Revival Plans – Blue Protocol: Star Resonance Rises
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is going to be more than rebranding— we see it as a second chance. The new Chinese studio of developers Shanghai Bokura, in collaboration with some original Blue Protocol devs from Bandai Namco, is addressing the pain points that sank the game.
This is what we should expect Blue Protocol: Star Resonance:
- New Narrative and Characters. Set in the same world, Star Resonance should creatively feature new stories and characters with a focus on the main quest to find out who you are and to meet an impossible destiny.
- Combat Gameplay Redesign. The developers are taking down the “poor combat feel” that comes with Bokura to the path of combat skill release streamlining and the elimination of those mechanics that disrupted the combos, like drop and air attacks. The spectators expect a redesigned talent tree, and the enhanced character progress will definitely attract gamers while the community’s voice savors the action.
- Family Willingness. Therefore, to increase the number of players, Bokura will be using social features like in-game chat improvements, housing mechanics, and casual activities. By doing so, “the hangout” feeling will be the main principle set in a virtual anime world without having to get through the tough grinding.
A closed beta in China of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance led to a promising early stage in the development led by Bokura, with the developers at the cutting edge of the user feedback implementation process. Additionally, there is speculation that mobile compatibility, with Tencent’s support and experience, could mean a new stage for the game’s growth after Genshin Impact’s victory over huge desktop online games.
The fans are already speculating in videos about how the Blue Protocol’s new version may look and what features could be added.
Comparing Blue Protocol to Similar MMO Games
Blue Protocol aimed to take its place under the MMO sun, but it has faced tough competition. Let’s see how it could and still can compete against other popular MMO games with the same visuals, gameplay, and mechanics. Check the comparison table to understand the differences.
| Game | Visual Style | Combat | Content Updates | Monetization |
| Blue Protocol | Anime, cel-shaded, Unreal Engine 4 | Action-based, class-switching | Slow, lacked depth | Free-to-play, cosmetic microtransactions |
| Genshin Impact | Anime, vibrant, open-world | Action RPG, elemental combos | Frequent, story-driven updates | Free-to-play, gacha system |
| Wuthering Waves | Anime, post-apocalyptic | Fast-paced action, parkour elements | Steady, but newer title | Free-to-play, gacha system |
| Final Fantasy XIV | Fantasy, detailed | Tab-targeting, role-based | Regular expansions, rich story | Subscription, optional cosmetics |
Pros and Cons of Blue Protocol
The Blue Protocol MMO game had its flaws and perks. The following table reflects the title’s major advantages and disadvantages.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gorgeous visuals | Repetitive gameplay |
| Flexible class system | Technical issues |
| Free-to-play model with minimum monetization | Slow updates |
Sadly, the original Blue Protocol was set to be an MMO project to solve its problems before it was discontinued. The 2024 “Beyond” update focused on removing the repetitive gameplay by adding features like housing and mini-games. In addition, a new class named Blitz Lancer was introduced, which proved that Bandai Namco was still working on new content. However, it was too late to reap the results.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is playing to be the game that relates to the good things and fixing the bad ones. The problems like lacking content and high difficulty were solved in Blue Protocol and were specified by Bokura as the major reasons resulting in cancellation. By launching the mobile version with Star Resonance, the company sees the opportunity for a bigger user base…the littered version of the city of Regnas was the perfect hangout. However, the challenge is tough.
The MMO market is not forgiving with Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves at the top. That’s why the new team has to invest their heart and soul in the new project.
Blue Protocol’s cancellation brought a lot of sadness to the Japanese community of MMO fans. Its setting was stunning, and the feeling of a fantasy world adventure was captivating. Star Resonance seems like a fresh start – like the new team with the support of the former team is actually reaching out to the followers who have already seen Regnas’s potential.
FAQ
Will a new MMO Blue Protocol be free?
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will likely be free-to-play. It will probably follow the original’s model with cosmetic microtransactions. No official pricing details are confirmed yet, but Bokura’s focus on accessibility suggests a free base game with optional purchases.
Can you play Blue Protocol now?
Blue Protocol’s Japanese servers shut down on January 18, 2025, and it’s currently unplayable. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is still in development, with a closed beta completed in China (December 2024). The global release is slated for late 2025.
Will Blue Protocol be on PC?
Yes, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will be available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, alongside mobile platforms. The original Blue Protocol was PC-compatible, and Bokura is continuing this with Unreal Engine 4 for a 2025 launch.
Is Blue Protocol out global?
The original Blue Protocol game has never launched globally and was canceled in 2025. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is targeting a global release in 2025 on PC and mobile, but it’s not out yet. Pre-registration is open on Steam and Epic Games Store.
Conclusion
The BandurArt team continues to explore the interesting project. This time we showed with the example of Blue Protocol MMO game that even the cancelled projects can be revived if the community has a demand for it. Blue Protocol has a very interesting background that we can’t miss out on. If you want to read more of such content for gamers and developers, follow and bookmark us. We would also appreciate it if you contact us with a desire to collaborate. Let’s support one another!
