At the Game Awards, Amazon announced that it will take over the publishing of Blue Protocol in the West. This new MMORPG comes from Japan and focuses heavily on PvE and story content. We at MeinMMO conducted an interview with Mike Zadorojny, the franchise lead at Amazon.
What are the new details? Blue Protocol will be released in 2023 not only in Japan but also in the West. Amazon will release it in the second half of the year for PC on Steam and also on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It will be free to play.
The anime MMORPG offers a deep and exciting story, dungeons, raids, and completely forgoes PvP. You can read the exact details about Blue Protocol here.
Below you will find the interview we had with Mike Zadorojny about the general direction of the game, the story, and the shop, which is supposed to differ in the West from that in Japan.
A linear but captivating story about time travel
MeinMMO: Could you introduce Blue Protocol to us in more detail?
Mike: Blue Protocol is a massively multiplayer online action role-playing game with beautiful cel-shading graphics. It is essentially an animated anime brought to life. It is being developed jointly by Bandai Namco Online and Bandai Namco Studios and will be published by Amazon Games for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 in North America, South America, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand in the second half of 2023.
As a player, you are the title character who wakes up not knowing who or where they are, and you embark on this journey to meet other characters who will accompany you in the adventure through space and time while you regain your memories.
The game features a very intuitive action combat system. It is very, very easy to learn and play. It is essentially designed for a controller with simple inputs, but it also offers in-depth customization options.
Here you can find the trailer from the Game Awards:
Blue Protocol is designed to be played cooperatively, but also solo. Character customization allows you to create your own anime avatar, becoming the hero of your own anime adventure.
You can play through the game from start to finish, but it is also designed as an MMO, so you can play with up to six players in open fields and dungeons, or team up with large groups to conquer raids with rare rewards.
MeinMMO: The focus of Blue Protocol, as you already mentioned, is on the captivating story. Can you tell us details about the scope of the story? Is it more linear, or can we make decisions?
Mike: The story will have a certain number of chapters at launch and will be continuously expanded with live updates afterward. As for the length, it will of course depend on the player and their playstyle. But as I mentioned, it is designed to be completed solo as well.
If players want, they can take their time, as they will experience this complex storyline that will guide them through time and space.
At least in the early parts, the story is quite linear, so there are not too many branching paths. But there are elements where the player chooses what they play and what allies they choose for it. But for starters, it’s really about taking players on this amazing journey that truly focuses on immersing into the traditional anime story elements.
MeinMMO: How does it work with leveling new classes? For many players, this is an important element.
Mike: It’s actually quite simple because you can switch character classes at any time. If you want to play just one character, you can certainly do that. Each class has a different level.
However, if you want, you can also play alts if you want a different personality or appearance.
Small Areas, Dungeons, and Raids, but no PvP at all
MeinMMO: Blue Protocol does not have a classic open world but relies on instanced areas with a maximum number of players. What are the pros and cons of this from your perspective?
Mike: I think it’s an advantage because it allows the zones to scale seamlessly. So you never come to an overcrowded place because there are only a limited number of players there.
But when you join a wedding, it’s very easy to have the same experience you would have if not so many players were online.
MeinMMO: Dungeons and raids are supposed to play an important role in Blue Protocol. Will there be matchmaking for this, or do players have to form their groups beforehand?
Mike: For dungeons and raids, you can form groups in both ways. You can either form a group yourself or get added directly in matchmaking.
MeinMMO: It was initially stated that there would be no PvP in Blue Protocol. Is that still the current status?
Mike: That still holds true for the launch version. Currently, there are no PvP contents. However, there are some competitive dungeons for players, but there is no active fighting against other players.
MeinMMO: The press release mentions Echos that accompany the players. What exactly can we imagine by this?
Mike: Echos are essentially a crafting skill that allows players to summon some of the monsters or characters they fight against. Alternatively, they can summon allies that enter for a short summoning skill and then disappear again.
It’s basically another way that allows players to customize their skills.
Crossplay, Localization, and Information about the Real Money Shop
MeinMMO: Blue Protocol is set to be released for PC and consoles. What about crossplay or cross save between platforms?
Mike: We will have more information about this next year.
MeinMMO: Will the game, like Lost Ark and New World, be released on Steam?
Mike: Yes, it will be released on Steam for PC.
MeinMMO: Will there be a German localization and voiceover for the game?
Mike: We are committed to ensuring that the texts are all available in German. And right now, we have English and Japanese voiceovers and are pushing for additional language support. We will be able to say more about this next year.
MeinMMO: The MMORPG will be free to play. Can you already provide us with details about the shop?
Mike: Blue Protocol is a completely free game with optional in-game purchases. We will have Founders Packs that will grant you access to our beta events next year. Additionally, there will be bundles released alongside new content. There will be an in-game store where players can acquire items in various ways. There are what we call capsule beta, which are random cosmetic items for costumes, mounts, and weapon skins.
However, Amazon’s core values ensure that it is a fun and fair experience, so you do not have to buy these things to truly experience or enjoy the game.
MeinMMO: So, will the shop differ between the version in Japan and ours?
Mike: It will not be exactly the same, as we are making specific changes for the Western market. We want a design that fits Western players and find our own ways to satisfy players.
Blue Protocol appeals more to the mainstream than New World and Lost Ark
MeinMMO: What makes this MMORPG so interesting and do you think it can compete with the successes of New World and Lost Ark?
Mike: I think that Blue Protocol creates something that other Amazon Games titles cannot, namely the distinctive art style and accessibility. It is also more of a mainstream or casual game, as it is designed to be very accessible.
We are aiming for a rating of T for Teen, so we really try to make sure everyone can experience the game with their friends and family. And then of course the ridiculously complicated and profound story, because it’s an anime that will have its corners and edges, the twists of who is your friend and who betrays you, and so on.
MeinMMO: Thank you, Mike, for taking the time for us.
What do you think of the new information about Blue Protocol? Does this MMORPG appeal to you? And what do you think about Amazon taking over the publishing?
Blue Protocol is one of the reasons why the future of MMORPGs looks very bright:
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