Bandai Namco has made the difficult decision to shut down the servers of Blue Protocol in Japan, effective January 18, 2025. This announcement has also led to the cancellation of the game's planned global release, which was to be facilitated by Amazon Games. The decision to terminate Blue Protocol stems from Bandai Namco's acknowledgment that they cannot continue to meet the expectations of their fans with the service.
In their official statement, Bandai Namco conveyed their regret over the cancellation, stating, "We have decided that it is beyond our capabilities to continue providing a service that satisfies everyone." They also expressed disappointment in not being able to move forward with the global release plans alongside Amazon Games.
Final Updates and Compensation for Players
As the end date approaches, Bandai Namco has committed to supporting Blue Protocol with updates and new content until its final day. However, players will no longer be able to purchase or request refunds for the in-game currency, Rose Orbs. As a gesture of goodwill, Bandai will distribute 5,000 Rose Orbs to players on the first day of each month from September 2024 until January 2025, along with 250 Rose Orbs daily. Additionally, starting with the recently released Season 9 pass, all subsequent season passes will be available for free, and the final update, Chapter 7, is set to be released on December 18, 2024.
Blue Protocol initially launched in Japan in June 2023 to much anticipation, achieving over 200,000 concurrent players right out of the gate. Unfortunately, the launch was marred by server issues, necessitating emergency maintenance on the release day. Despite the strong start, the game saw a decline in player numbers and growing dissatisfaction among its user base.
The game struggled to retain its player base and did not meet Bandai Namco's financial expectations. This underperformance was highlighted in their financial report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, which ultimately contributed to the decision to cease operations.
