Of the plethora of titles announced at The Game Awards 2022, there were a few that truly stood out. The emergence of Hades 2, Ken Levine's next adventure Judas, and a follow-up to Kojima's Death Stranding topped the show, but a trailer for Blue Protocol seemed to thoroughly satisfy fans of MMORPGs. It is Amazon Games next outing, but this time will look to learn from the mistakes of New World and Lost Ark by collaborating with industry titan Bandai Namco. To really succeed, it should learn not just from Amazon's own missteps, but also from MMOs that have excelled in the genre like Final Fantasy 14.
There are plenty of successful MMORPGs that Blue Protocol could look to for inspiration and guidance, but Bandai Namco's tendency to lean into Japanese video game stereotypes, as well as its anime-ish art style means it is perhaps best served taking cues from Final Fantasy 14. It's not clear if the title will more closely resemble this Square Enix product or other games like Genshin Impact or Guild Wars 2, but Final Fantasy does enough right to transcend the genre. Amazon is still a new kid on the block, and Blue Protocol could be the company's much-needed big hit if handled well.
Blue Protocol Needs to Have a Story to Remember
Art style that mimics the Tales franchise and The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel would imply story is going to be a high priority for Blue Protocol. The project has to take advantage of its strong character models and populated environments by not neglecting the effectiveness of a great narrative, even in the MMO genre. There have been many online-centric titles that think it's adequate to present a half-hearted story in favor of other elements, but Final Fantasy 14 showed that a game can lean heavily on MMO mechanics while also forging a journey that is memorable as any other game in the longstanding series.
Tales that are told in each Final Fantasy 14 expansion make the game feel like it wouldn't be out of place if it was an entirely single-player affair. When such chapters are woven together, Final Fantasy 14 feels like a grand saga filled with wonderful character development, high stakes, and some genuinely heartfelt moments. It's at the center of the game's charm, but at no point do the online elements take a backseat. Players can experience the game as they choose, and giving those who play Blue Protocol a strong story to follow or lose interest in would only add to its chances at success.
Final Fantasy 14 Builds a Fantastic Community
Final Fantasy 14 is not just one of the best stories in the MMO genre, but Eorzea is also a lovely place to be, due in-part because of the fantastic community that occupies the servers. Systems are in place to make the game feel welcoming, including a dedicated community finder and a subtle icon by new players' names to show that they are just beginning their adventure. People are accommodating to newbies and rarely do tensions boil over in the game's chat. Online titles are notoriously prickly, but Final Fantasy 14 is as friendly as it gets, which is something that Blue Protocol could replicate.
Blue Protocol's free-to-play format means that Amazon surely wants it to stay relevant and populated for years to come, and that would dwindle significantly if the game isn't a nice place to traverse. MMOs mean throwing people of all backgrounds together, and this can easily result in unwarranted toxicity. Amazon and Bandai Namco can't choose who plays their game, but they can implement structures to ensure that Blue Protocol feels like a nice respite from real-world troubles with a community that is as friendly as Final Fantasy 14's.
Final Fantasy 14 Support is Ongoing
There is an oft-memed Final Fantasy 14 trial that allows players to experience the base game and its first expansion Heavensward at no cost, albeit with some restrictions. It's a great way to bring people into the world without much of a commitment, and Blue Protocol's free-to-play philosophy could easily have the same impact. It will have to generate revenue somehow, and paid cosmetic items will surely be included, but it's also an indicator that Amazon is placing trust in the title to survive on a long-term basis.
This is essential, as games that are reliant on populated servers can fade into obscurity in a few short months or weeks. Even games in mammoth franchises like Halo Infinite struggles to keep people coming back when there's a lack of new things to do. Despite being almost a decade old in its current incarnation, Final Fantasy 14 feels as new as it did all those years ago. Longevity is critical in the online space, and the more reasons there are to return, the more likely a game such as Blue Protocol will retain popularity.
The announcement of Blue Protocol showcased a glimpse of the art style, gameplay loop, and world-building that Amazon and Bandai Namco are looking to release in the latter half of 2023. Initial indicators are that it has the potential to be what the retail and tech giant needs to find a permanent home in the gaming space. Amazon can't repeat the same mistakes in Blue Protocol as other games it has published, so Square Enix could be a guiding light with how well it has supported Final Fantasy 14.
Blue Protocol is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.