Project KV Cancelled After Negative Reactions Over Blue Archive Similarities

Project KV, a visual novel-style game from former Blue Archive developers, has been cancelled. Let's explore the reasons behind this abrupt end.

Project KV Cancelled: A Fallout of Resemblance to Blue Archive

Dynamis One Apologizes for the Backlash

Dynamis One, a studio founded by former Blue Archive developers, announced the cancellation of their anticipated game, Project KV, on September 9th via Twitter (X). The game, initially generating significant buzz, faced intense criticism due to its striking similarities to Blue Archive, the mobile gacha game they previously worked on at Nexon Games. In their statement, Dynamis One apologized for the controversy and acknowledged the concerns regarding the game's resemblance to its predecessor. They emphasized their commitment to avoiding future issues and confirmed the removal of all Project KV related materials online. The studio expressed regret to fans and pledged to work harder to meet expectations in future endeavors.

Project KV's initial promotional video, released August 18th, showcased a story prologue with full voice acting. A second teaser followed two weeks later, offering a closer look at characters and story elements. However, the project's cancellation came swiftly, just a week after the second teaser. While disappointing for Dynamis One, the online reaction to the cancellation was largely celebratory.

Blue Archive vs. "Red Archive": A Tale of Two Cities (and Halos)

Dynamis One, a Korean publisher led by former Blue Archive developer Park Byeong-Lim, sparked discussion upon its founding in April. Park's departure from Nexon, along with key developers, raised immediate questions among the Blue Archive fanbase. The subsequent unveiling of Project KV ignited a firestorm. Fans quickly noted the striking similarities between the two projects, from aesthetics and music to the core concept: a Japanese-style city populated by weapon-wielding female students.

The inclusion of a "Master" character, echoing Blue Archive's "Sensei," and the presence of halo-like adornments above characters, mirroring those in Blue Archive, further fueled the controversy. These halos, significant narrative elements in Blue Archive, became a focal point of criticism. Many felt the similarities constituted plagiarism, leading to accusations of Project KV being a blatant rip-off. The speculated connection between "KV" and "Kivotos," the fictional city in Blue Archive, solidified the nickname "Red Archive" among critics.

Kim Yong-ha, Blue Archive's general producer, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a fan account's clarification on Twitter (X), stating that Project KV was not a sequel or spin-off, but a separate project developed by former Nexon employees.

Ultimately, the overwhelmingly negative response led to Project KV's cancellation. Dynamis One's announcement lacked specific details, but the decision appears to be a direct consequence of the plagiarism accusations. While some expressed disappointment, many saw the cancellation as a justified outcome. Whether Dynamis One will learn from this experience and develop a more original vision for future projects remains to be seen.