Bandai Namco's canceled MMORPG returning

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Key recommendations

  • After being canceled due to lack of players, Blue Protocol will be revived as Star Resonance.
  • The game will be set in the same world as Blue Protocol, but will feature new characters and an original story.
  • Chinese developer Bokura is working on the game in collaboration with Bandai Namco.



The Blue ProtocolBandai Namco's canceled MMORPG returns to life as Resonance of the Star. Despite the positive reception, the original MMO struggled to gain the player base necessary to justify its continued development and support. While this was disappointing to many fans, The Blue Protocol it won't be gone forever, as a spiritual successor-turned-spinoff will soon take its place.

Bandai Namco has announced that it is shutting down The Blue Protocol in August 2024, giving players until January 2025 to enjoy the title before the servers go offline. The MMO had yet to see a release outside of Japan before the news broke, but now players who didn't get a chance to try the original might have another chance to explore the world of Regnas. Resonance of the Starwhich started as a mobile spin-off of blue protocol, is still in the works and nearing an initial release.


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Bokura, a Chinese developer, previously announced a collaboration with Bandai Namco, saying they were working on another story set in The Blue Protocolthe world of Regnas. Now, that project has begun to take shape with its unveiling Resonance of the Star. As mentioned in the original announcement, the game takes place in the same world as The Blue Protocol but new characters and an original story follow. While it's not the original game, it's still a promising update for fans, some of whom believed The Blue Protocol could be Amazon's first big gaming success, especially since many didn't get to experience Regnas in the first place.


Star Resonance could succeed where Blue Protocol failed

It is not clear when Resonance of the Star will launch, but Bokura is currently running a closed beta test in China that will end at the end of December 2024. Some members of the original team from The Blue Protocol is also working on the project, which could help it become a true spiritual successor to Bandai Namco's ill-fated MMO. Although still in development, early signs are promising. The pivot to include mobile support could help the game reach a larger audience. Other MMOs have seen considerable success in going this route, with Genshin Impact being one of the best free PC games available today.


It's also worth noting that Bokura is a Tencent-backed studio. Tencent is a massive conglomerate with close ties to the video game industry. Ubisoft is rumored to be considering a buyout of Tencent, if that's any indication of the kind of resources the company has at its disposal. Having the backing of such a major industry power could help Resonance of the Star the time of its initial release where The Blue Protocol failed to manage costs. For now, fans will have to wait and see what happens with the game and its eventual release.

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