Bandai Namco has seen over 100 staff members depart since April 2024, a notable occurrence in the company’s history but not publicly acknowledged. The Japanese gaming giant has faced challenges, particularly with the MMORPG Blue Protocol, which fell short of expectations and resulted in the cancellation of its Western launch. Following this, several former developers are creating a spiritual successor named Blue Protocol: Star Resonance under a Tencent subsidiary, aiming to keep the game's essence alive. While the staff loss casts a shadow, recent financial reports indicate overall growth for Bandai Namco, fueled by successful titles like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
nWhy has Bandai Namco lost so many employees recently?The large employee departures can likely be attributed to the struggles the company faced with key projects, especially the disappointing launch of Blue Protocol, which led to staff restructuring and the dissolution of Bandai Namco Online. However, positive financial gains from recent successful game releases suggest a complex situation within the company.
Blue Protocol, an action MMORPG developed by Bandai Namco, launched with high expectations but ultimately disappointed many fans. This led to the cancellation of its planned Western release, prompting developers to seek new opportunities, including a spiritual successor that retains elements of the original game's vision.
Samira Khan
Samira Khan is a narrative enthusiast with a keen eye for storytelling in games. Her literary approach to game criticism examines themes, character development, and plot structure, earning her a following among gamers who appreciate the art of narrating.
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Comments
It’s wild how Bandai Namco can be riding high with hits like Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero while also dealing with the fallout from Blue Protocol’s struggles. Losing over 100 staff is no small thing, but it’s interesting to see how the gaming industry’s cycle of setbacks and comebacks keeps things unpredictable.
It's always tough to see a game like Blue Protocol stumble, especially when it had so much potential, but it's cool to see former devs keeping the spirit alive with Star Resonance. Bandai Namco's overall growth shows they’re still a powerhouse, but losing that many staff definitely feels like a wake-up call for balancing ambition with execution.