Blue Protocol Global Release Canceled as Japan Servers Close Down

Bandai Namco's Blue Protocol, initially slated for a global launch, will cease operations. The Japanese servers are shutting down, effectively canceling the international release planned in partnership with Amazon Games. This decision follows persistent challenges and ultimately, failure to meet player expectations.

Blue Protocol's Demise and Player Compensation

The official shutdown date for Japanese servers is January 18, 2025. Bandai Namco cited an inability to provide a satisfactory service as the reason for closure, also expressing disappointment at the cancelled global release.

To compensate players, Bandai Namco will provide 5,000 Rose Orbs monthly (from September 2024 to January 2025), plus 250 daily. Rose Orb purchases and refunds are discontinued. Furthermore, the Season 9 pass is free, and the final update (Chapter 7) launches December 18, 2024.

The game's initial June 2023 launch in Japan saw a promising start with over 200,000 concurrent players. However, server issues and subsequent player dissatisfaction led to a rapid decline in its player base. This underperformance, as reported in Bandai Namco's financial report (ending March 31, 2024), ultimately led to the decision to shut down the game. Despite initial success, Blue Protocol failed to meet financial projections and sustain its player community.