Bandai Namco has announced that Bandai Namco Online will be absorbed by Bandai Namco Entertainment as part of a merger on April 1, 2025. Bandai Namco Online released several titles including Gundam Evolution and Blue Protocol both of which are no longer receiving support. Titles currently in development at the studio will be transferred to Bandai Namco Entertainment. This news comes after a report from Bloomberg last month that Bandai Namco is cutting jobs and canceling several titles in development. According to the report, this is a result of “lackluster demand”. However, due to strict Japanese labor laws the company cannot execute mass layoffs and is instead forcing employees to voluntarily quit.
Blue Protocol details via Bandai:
Blue Protocol is a beautiful, cel-shaded multiplayer online action role-playing game that plays like an anime come to life. With an immersive and compelling story, options to fully customize your character, and five unique classes to choose from at launch, players can become the hero of their own fantasy adventure.
Key Features
Cinematic Main Campaign and Ample Side Content – Blue Protocol takes players on a heroic journey through Regnas, a world teetering on the brink of destruction after millennia of conflict and technology overuse. As players journey, they encounter characters who illuminate the history of Regnas and guide them as they face-down powerful foes and unlock their memories. During this epic adventure, players can also explore the beautiful world and get to know the inhabitants as they complete side quests, hone their skills in different challenges, enjoy fishing and more.
Five Classes at Launch – Each class has a unique set of skills that can be strengthened and modified with Skill Points, which players earn by raising their class level. As players increase a skill to its maximum level, they’ll unlock a new class ability. Players can also switch classes at any time.
Using Echoes – During combat players can summon the power of Echoes, the spiritual remnants of mystical creatures with powerful attacks, to aid them in battle.
Character Customization – Players create and play as their own avatar, with fully customizable features including mix-and-match outfits and accessories, hairstyles, and mounts.
Dynamic Multiplayer – Players can enjoy all of Blue Protocol’s story alone or with others, with group content including Fields and Dungeons for up to six players, and epic Raids for larger groups. Gameplay can also trigger rare open world bosses that bring together players from across the map to take down for rare loot.
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More than doubled previous record.
According to former employee accounts.
According to a recent report.