Blue Protocol Is Back Under "Star Resonance," And My Hopes Are Up All Over Again

Last year, we got the disappointing news that Blue Protocol — admittedly my most anticipated F2P MMORPG at the time — was cancelled. The game never made it to a global launch, and the Japanese servers were shut down earlier this year. With Blue Protocol reportedly underperforming financially, Amazon Games pulled the plug before the game even had a shot in the West.

Fast forward to the present, Star Resonance recently welcomed players in China to a limited beta test. What’s Star Resonance, you ask? It’s Blue Protocol all over again, just under a different name. The game is essentially a mobile-game-ified Blue Protocol that’s being developed by Tencent instead of Bandai Namco this time around.

I wanted to connect my VPN and dive in myself, but I couldn’t be bothered to navigate the Chinese language barrier, so I did the next best thing: watched hours of other people playing. And honestly? I’m impressed, and ready to be let down again.

Star Resonance, which has a PC client by the way, looks damn good visually. You’re able to jump, glide, and roam through a stunning open world. Other players are around you too — running through zones, fighting packs of mobs, and knocking out quests. It appears to be a “proper” MMORPG.

The next beta for Star Resonance will take place April 24, 2025.

⬇️Recruitment is LIVE ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rtyNbzaa4b

— Star Resonance Database (@StarResonanceDB) April 8, 2025

The game has social features too; I noticed guilds, emotes, and fishing. Also, unlike a lot of mobile games, there’s no stamina or energy cap — so you can theortectially grind dungeons or world bosses til your heart’s content.

As for combat, Star Resonance combines action and tab-targeting, which I think is the ideal setup for an MMORPG. There are seven classes, each with their own specializations, and the dungeons look fun because the moment-to-moment gameplay feels tight and impactful.

On the monetization side, there’s a cosmetic gacha system, daily log-in rewards, and monthly passes. It doesn’t scream pay-to-win. That being said, some convenience items and class unlocks are locked behind premium currency apparently.

So far, the game is confirmed for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Fingers crossed Star Resonance comes to the West. I only got to try out Blue Protocol in English during a closed test long ago, and I genuinely had a blast. I’m hopeful, but again, I’m ready to be let down again.