Bandai Namco has made the difficult decision to terminate the service of Blue Protocol in Japan, effective January 18, 2025. This announcement also marks the cancellation of the much-anticipated global release of the game, which was to be facilitated by Amazon Games. The decision stems from Bandai Namco's assessment that they cannot continue to provide a service that meets the expectations of their fans.
In an official statement, Bandai Namco conveyed their regret: "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 in partnership with Amazon Games.
Final Updates and Compensation for Players
As Blue Protocol approaches its end date, Bandai Namco has committed to supporting the game with regular 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. To compensate, Bandai Namco will distribute 5,000 Rose Orbs to players on the first day of each month from September 2024 until January 2025, along with a daily allocation of 250 Rose Orbs. Furthermore, starting with the recently released Season 9 pass, all subsequent season passes will be available to players for free. The final update, Chapter 7, is set to launch on December 18, 2024.
Blue Protocol initially launched in Japan in June 2023 and saw a strong start, with over 200,000 concurrent players at its peak. However, the launch was marred by server issues that necessitated emergency maintenance, leading to a decline in player numbers and growing dissatisfaction. Despite a promising debut, the game struggled to retain its player base and did not meet Bandai Namco's financial expectations. The company had previously indicated the game's underperformance in its financial report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, which ultimately contributed to the decision to end the game's services.
