Bandai Namco Shuts Down Online Studio Following Blue Protocol’s Disappointing Launch
On April 1, 2025, Bandai Namco will disband and integrate Bandai Namco On-line (BNO), its subsidiary studio focused on online gaming.
Bandai Namco On-line was founded in 2009 with the specific aim of creating MMO titles based on the company’s franchises for PC and consoles. Over the years, the developer produced titles like Dragon Ball Z: X KeeperZ, Gundam Evolution, and the Amazon Games-supported Blue Protocol.
In a statement, Bandai Namco clarified that it was dissolving BNO due to “recent shifts in the landscape of the gaming industry, and with the purpose of enhancing the management structure of the entire digital business.” Gundam Evolution will terminate just a year after its 2022 launch, and Blue Protocol was cancelled this past August.
Prior to Blue Protocol’s shutdown, BNO was experiencing insolvency, partly attributed to soaring development expenses. The game itself was only accessible in Japan before its end, and Amazon was set to manage its broader global launch for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S as part of its ongoing MMO strategy alongside its internally developed New World.
According to its parent company, Bandai Namco On-line’s current titles, such as Gundam Tryve and Idolish 7, will be continued by Bandai Namco right after the merger is completed. Even with the loss of one of its studios, Bandai Namco stated it still aims to “deliver high-quality content and diverse entertainment that can be enjoyed for an extended period.”
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