Bandai Namco cancels Blue Protocol ahead of planned Western release with Amazon

Despite looking fantastic, Bandai Namco's anime-themed MMO, Blue Protocol, will no longer be making it to full release. The developers had teamed up with Amazon Games to bring the game to the west at some point this year, but after garnering feedback from the Japanese audience, where the game was already available, Bandai Namco has decided to cancel the game entirely. 

Blue Protocol will no longer be coming to the west and the current Japanese servers for the game will be shut down, despite plans to launch the game later this year. While the game really nailed the anime aesthetic, the developer team no longer feels it can deliver on its vision of making every single player feel like the main character in a fantasy anime.

“We regret to inform you that the Japanese version of Blue Protocol will be discontinued on Saturday January 18, 2025”, Bandai Namco's statement reads. “As a result, we have also canceled our plans to release a Western version of the game in collaboration with Amazon Games.”

Expanding on the reasoning behind the cancelation, the company said:

“We know there has been great anticipation for Blue Protocol since the first announcement of the game. We wanted to deliver an experience that is like stepping into the world of anime, and we have been challenging ourselves to create a world where each and every player can enjoy adventures as the main character of the anime. We have worked hard to prepare for the release. However, we have come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to provide a service that satisfies all of you. We deeply apologise for the sudden announcement.”

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is unclear what exactly went wrong here, but it sounds like the game wasn't really taking off in Japan, and as a result, the developers are cutting their losses and moving on. Did any of you happen to play the Japanese version of Blue Protocol? Do you agree with the decision to cancel the game entirely? 

Become a Patron!