Blue Protocol Global Release Canceled as Japan Servers Close Down

Bandai Namco's decision to shutter Blue Protocol's Japanese servers and subsequently cancel the global release planned with Amazon Games has sent shockwaves through the gaming community. This article details the announcement and its implications.

Blue Protocol's Demise: Japan Servers Closing, Global Launch Scrapped

Player Compensation and Final Updates

Bandai Namco has confirmed the closure of Blue Protocol's Japanese servers on January 18, 2025. Concurrently, the global release, a joint venture with Amazon Games, has been terminated. Bandai cited an inability to deliver a consistently satisfying player experience as the primary reason for this difficult decision. Their official statement expressed regret and disappointment at the inability to meet player expectations and continue global development.

To compensate players, Bandai Namco will provide 5,000 Rose Orbs on the first of each month, beginning September 2024 and continuing through January 2025. A daily allotment of 250 Rose Orbs will also be distributed. Rose Orb purchases and refunds will cease, but players will receive the Season 9 pass and subsequent season passes for free. The final update, Chapter 7, is slated for December 18, 2024.

Launched in June 2023, Blue Protocol initially attracted significant attention, boasting over 200,000 concurrent players. However, the game encountered substantial server issues at launch, requiring emergency maintenance. Subsequently, player numbers dwindled, and dissatisfaction grew.

Despite a promising debut, Blue Protocol failed to retain its player base and ultimately fell short of Bandai Namco's financial projections. This underperformance, previously hinted at in their March 31, 2024 financial report, ultimately led to the decision to end service.