Was the long-awaited Blue Protocol: Star Resonance finally worth the wait?
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance has finally made its debut in the Western market on Steam, and it's already drawing a significant crowd. At the time of writing, the game boasts nearly 95,000 concurrent players, surpassing popular titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong, Marvel Rivals, and EA Sports FC 26.
Initially, this anime-inspired MMORPG was developed by Bandai Namco and scheduled for a Western release through Amazon Games. However, in August 2024, the Japanese servers were unexpectedly shut down, and the Western launch was canceled. This setback left many fans wondering what the future held for the game.
Enter Bokura, a Tencent-backed developer, who stepped in to revive the project. They rebranded it as Blue Protocol: Star Resonance and launched it as a free-to-play title on multiple platforms, including Steam, Epic Games Store, iOS, and Google Play, covering regions such as North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.
But here's where it gets controversial: despite the promising revival, early feedback from players on Steam suggests mixed feelings about the game. It currently holds a Mixed rating, with many criticizing its lack of substantial content, generic gameplay, and heavy reliance on gacha mechanics.
One Steam reviewer lamented, "Just once I would love to get an anime MMO without 1000 currencies, gacha, 5000 'presents' with no real value, and an overloaded UI." Another player echoed this sentiment, calling the game "absolute slop" and likening it to the decline of the MMO genre.
On the flip side, some players have found merit in the game's visuals and art style, suggesting it's worth trying for those interested in free-to-play options.
When Bandai Namco announced the cancellation of the Japanese servers, they cited the difficulty in providing a satisfactory experience for all players as the reason behind their decision. My own hands-on experience with the game prior to its Japanese release was generally positive, but I also had doubts about its ability to stand out against competitors like HoYoVerse.
Once the game launched in Japan, it didn't receive overwhelmingly positive reviews, which ultimately led to its cancellation. Now, with its revival as Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, the game has a fresh chance to succeed. However, whether this revival justifies the long wait remains to be seen.
For those curious about diving into the game, our guide on how to redeem codes in Blue Protocol can be a helpful starting point.
