Blue Protocol Is Dead, But Its Anime MMO Universe Lives On

So Blue Protocol died. Like, officially. Shut down in 2024, cancelled globally, last login screen kissed goodbye with a sad anime salute. And now, a year later? There’s a new game. Same name, slightly longer title: Blue Protocol: Star Resonance.

Confused? So was everyone.

This isn’t a relaunch or reboot of the original. Star Resonance is technically a different game—new developer, new structure, new focus. Originally conceived as a mobile side project while the original MMO was still alive, it’s now being expanded into a full-on MMO of its own. Think spiritual sequel, not patch 2.0.

It’s being developed by Shanghai Bokura Network, and it’s already had some beta tests in China. The early footage looks familiar if you ever played the original: fast-paced anime combat, hover-orb mounts, very expressive emotes, and an overall vibe that screams Genshin Impact meets floating lizard fights. So yeah, Blue Protocol-ish.

The combat's still class-based. According to the official site, you’ve got your classic trinity setup. Tank? Shield Knight. DPS? Frost Mage and Stormblade. Support? Verdant Oracle. There’s also a Glaive-heavy class for people who like spinning in circles with damage numbers flying everywhere.

So far, so nostalgic. But here’s where it gets murky.

"Progression seems like it's tied to talent tree advancement and gear upgrades, both of which require materials that can be purchased with real money through premium currency."

That’s pulled straight from early tester feedback, and it’s setting off the usual red flags. On paper, yes, you can grind for materials. But if the drop rates get tuned just right (read: miserably low), the whole thing risks tipping into full-on pay-to-win territory. No one wants another monetization disaster.

But the strange part of all this is the timeline. Star Resonance was already in development before the original Blue Protocol shut down. That means Bandai Namco knew the ship was sinking—and handed the keys to a new one before it even hit the ocean floor. That’s either strategic foresight or total chaos, depending on your trust level in anime-themed corporate decisions.

What’s even more ironic is that Blue Protocol never got the chance to launch in the West. The original had planned releases in the US and EU, but those were axed before going live. Some fans barely got a taste before the servers went dark. Now, we’re getting a second helping—technically a different dish, but served on the same plate.

There’s no global release date yet, and no word if Star Resonance will come westward. But with all the buzz from Chinese beta tests and the fact that Bandai Namco still holds the IP, it’s probably only a matter of time. After all, they do love their region rollouts.

So yeah, Blue Protocol is dead. But the anime MMO dream started? Still twitching. Still glowing. Still desperately trying to sell you a floating orb mount through a gacha system.