Bandai Namco shuts down Amazon Games collab Blue Protocol

thesixthaxis.com:

Bandai Namco has announced that they are shutting down their online action RPG Blue Protocol in Japan, and cancelling their plans to release the game in the West in collaboration with Amazon Games.

The Japanese version of Blue Protocol will shut down on 18th January 2025.

On the West-facing site for the game, the team behind it said, “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Amazon Games throughout the development of BLUE PROTOCOL, and both of our teams are disappointed that we will not be able to deliver the game to players around the world.”

Bandai Namco’s more general statement reads:

We regret to inform you that the Japanese version of Blue Protocol will be discontinued on Saturday January 18, 2025.

As a result, we have also canceled our plans to release a Western version of the game in collaboration with Amazon Games. We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Amazon Games throughout the development of Blue Protocol, and both of our teams are disappointed that we will not be able to deliver the game to players around the world.

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 apologize for the sudden announcement.

Blue Protocol took an intriguing approach to the MMORPG, featuring a classless character system that would allow a great deal of flexibility for setting your own role within a player group, and a fun anime-styled world that quickly grabbed 600,000 players shortly after the game’s launch in Japan.

Bandai Namco partnered with Amazon Games to bring the game to the West, entering into a degree of co-development that