Bandai Namco has announced the cancellation of the global release of Blue Protocol, along with the closure of its Japanese servers in 2025. This decision follows the game's underperformance and inability to meet player expectations. Read on for details.
Blue Protocol: Global Release Cancelled and Japanese Servers Shutting Down
Player Compensation and Final Updates
Bandai Namco's announcement confirms the termination of Blue Protocol's Japanese service on January 18, 2025. Consequently, the planned global launch in partnership with Amazon Games is also canceled. The company cites its inability to deliver a consistently satisfying player experience as the reason for this decision.
Bandai Namco expressed regret over the cancellation, stating that maintaining a service meeting all player expectations proved impossible. They also acknowledged their disappointment in halting global development with Amazon Games.
To compensate players, Bandai Namco will provide ongoing support with updates and new content until the game's closure. While Rose Orbs will no longer be purchasable or refundable, players will receive 5,000 Rose Orbs monthly (starting September 2024) and 250 daily. Furthermore, Season Passes, beginning with Season 9, will be free, and Chapter 7, the final update, is slated for December 18, 2024.
Launched in Japan in June 2023, Blue Protocol initially attracted a large player base, exceeding 200,000 concurrent players. However, the game suffered from significant server issues at launch, requiring emergency maintenance. Subsequently, player numbers dwindled, and dissatisfaction grew.
Despite initial promise, Blue Protocol failed to retain its player base and ultimately fell short of Bandai Namco's financial projections. This underperformance, previously noted in their financial report (ending March 31, 2024), directly led to the decision to end service.
