In collaboration with Maxroll · IGN Staff
On May 15, 2025, fans of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance received big news: A Plus will officially bring this anime-style MMORPG, developed by Shanghai Bokura Network Technology (a Tencent subsidiary), to the West before the end of the year. This announcement came right after the closed beta in China concluded and has set expectations soaring.
True to their “player-first” approach, Bokura’s creators offered the largest English-speaking fan hub, Star Resonance Database, the chance to pose questions directly to the team. Roy, Bokura’s founder and veteran MMO producer (Dragon Nest Mobile, Ragnarok Origin), answered the community’s hottest questions with complete honesty.
Question 1: Many MMOs try to target PvE, PvP, role-players, casual and hardcore audiences, sometimes losing focus. Who is Star Resonance primarily aimed at, and which content areas will you focus on initially?
Answer: Our team, myself included, are anime enthusiasts with years of MMO production experience. We dreamed of combining a distinctive anime aesthetic with deep MMO mechanics. We know it’s ambitious—few games satisfy both anime lovers and traditional MMO players. Therefore, our target audience is precisely those players who, like us, seek deep MMO experiences set in vibrant anime-style worlds.
Question 2: Monetization is a major concern for Western players compared to the Asian base. During the Chinese beta we spotted an unrestricted premium-symbol conversion system, similar to those criticized in Western MMOs. Do you plan to adjust it for Western audiences? What is your current approach?
Answer: As mentioned, our game uses a hybrid PvE and casual model, so we absolutely do not want a pay-to-win environment. We offer convenient payment options—like currency boosts—but none grant exclusive advantages. All progression items can be obtained through gameplay, and the Trading Hub ensures paid benefits indirectly help the community by circulating resources.
Question 3: Content is another critical factor. What type of vertical progression can casual and hardcore players expect in Blue Protocol: Star Resonance?
Answer: Combat and progression are the heart of the MMO experience, so we’ve designed systems for all player types. After extensive iteration, we created combat that’s easy to learn for newcomers but deep enough to challenge veterans. For hardcore players, we offer five-player dungeons, twenty-player raids, and high-risk encounters with unique rewards. Each season introduces new classes, bosses, and PvE modes to keep things fresh. For casual players, we built social spaces—housing, fishing, life skills, and seasonal events—designed for relaxed, shared enjoyment.
Question 4: Many MMOs tend to introduce more and more systems, raising the entry barrier and overwhelming the community. To avoid this, it’s simpler to expand existing mechanics than to add new ones. What is your design philosophy for future development?
Answer: We’re intentional about keeping progression systems agile. Our philosophy is “grow without overwhelm”: whether you’re new or returning after a break, you should jump back in effortlessly. We prefer deepening existing systems—adding fresh goals and twists—rather than piling on new mechanics. This keeps the game familiar yet exciting.
Question 5: Excessive grind can discourage players. How will you balance difficulty and offer optional content?
Answer: We’ll deliver seasonal updates that not only add new content but also refresh existing activities with thematic challenges, ensuring veterans always find something new. We’re also enhancing social features so grind can be shared in groups, and providing lower-intensity side quests for those who prefer a relaxed pace.
Question 6: The community loves dynamic, spontaneous events in other MMOs. Are you planning similar world events?
Answer: We love those organic events, but our current focus is polishing core gameplay. However, we’re actively evaluating emergent world events for future updates. Stay tuned!
Question 7: Many anime enthusiasts will join. Can we expect collaborations with anime franchises?
Answer: Absolutely! As an anime-inspired MMO, we’re aligned with anime and manga IPs. We’ll soon launch polls to gather your preferences, because we want partnerships that reflect what you love. Get your suggestions ready!
Question 8: Current gear trading and auction house features are limited. Do you plan to expand these?
Answer: We’ve maintained certain limits based on past experiences—unrestricted storage led to alt-farming. We want to encourage cooperation without incentivizing excessive secondary characters.
Question 9: The life-skill energy system penalizes players with only one character. How will you balance this?
- Energy affects only trading convenience, not gathering or crafting, which are free.
- We’ve expanded recipes so dedicated life-skill players won’t hit progression walls.
- We’ve optimized the casual experience by reducing energy costs.
Question 10: The auto-combo feature raises concerns about trivializing combat and AFK farming. Will you adjust it?
Answer: Auto-combo and auto-pathing are intended to reduce mindless grind in low-difficulty zones only. We strictly regulate grind rewards to minimize AFK farming while preserving the core challenge.
Question 11: Will Western servers be region-locked or is a mega-server planned?
Answer: Many players requested a mega-server to unify the community. Though technically challenging, we’re actively working on a solution to deliver it if tests allow.
Question 12: Which languages will be supported at launch, and will more be added later?
Answer: At launch we’ll support English with Japanese voiceovers. We’re conducting localization QA now and can add more languages based on player feedback.
Question 13: Will a housing system be available at launch? What features will it include?
Answer: Good news for decoration enthusiasts: the housing system will be available from day one! Each player can claim a free island and home, invite up to four friends to join, and fully customize interiors and exteriors. It includes resource cultivation—sell crops for housing currency to purchase furniture and cosmetics—and some furniture can be crafted via life skills.
Question 14: The site shows the silhouette of a Guitarist class. Will more classes be added after launch, and how often?
Answer: Correct! The Guitarist class will be available at launch with DPS and support variants. We’ll add new classes periodically after launch—stay tuned for updates!
Question 15: You announced controller support. Does this mean you’re considering consoles or Steam Deck in the future?
Answer: We’ve implemented controller support for PC and are evaluating console and Steam Deck possibilities based on feedback and technical feasibility.
Question 16: Cosmetic options were limited in the Chinese beta. Will you expand customization for Western players?
Answer: We’ll continuously add outfits and mix-and-match cosmetics—hairstyles, accessories, facial features—to maximize personalization.
Question 17: Will a character creator be available before launch so players can test freely?
Answer: We think it’s a great idea. We’ve developed an in-client character editor that, after testing, could be available in a pre-launch build.
Question 18: The community wants to test the game in the West ASAP. Can you share any dates for global tests or the Western launch?
Answer: We’re preparing the global beta after two successful Chinese tests. No exact dates yet, but announcements won’t be far off.
Question 19: Will there be more Q&A sessions and English-language live streams with subtitles?
Answer: Yes. We’ve scheduled developer talks for English audiences and plan live streams with subtitles. Stay tuned!
With these answers, Roy and the Bokura team show their commitment to listening to the community and delivering an MMORPG that’s balanced, accessible, and packed with content for both anime nostalgists and genre enthusiasts. The journey toward Blue Protocol: Star Resonance has just begun!
