Project KV Axed Amid Backlash Over Blue Archive Resemblance

Project KV, a highly anticipated visual novel-type game from Dynamis One, a studio founded by former Blue Archive developers, has been canceled amidst controversy. The game, which drew significant attention upon its announcement, faced backlash due to its striking similarities to Blue Archive, the popular mobile gacha game developed by Nexon Games.

Project KV Devs Apologize for the Commotion

Dynamis One announced the cancellation of Project KV on Twitter (X) on September 9th, following the uproar over its similarities to Blue Archive. In their statement, the studio apologized for the trouble and commotion caused, acknowledging the concerns about the game's resemblance to their previous work. They emphasized their commitment to avoiding further issues and announced the removal of all Project KV-related materials online. The studio also expressed regret to the fans who had supported the project and promised to work harder to meet fan expectations in the future.

Project KV's first promotional video was released on August 18th, showcasing a brief story prologue with full voice acting and introducing the involved development studios. A second teaser followed two weeks later, providing more details on the game's characters, story, and key figures. However, the project was abruptly canceled just a week after the second teaser's release, much to the dismay of Dynamis One but to the relief of many online who celebrated its demise.

Blue Archive vs. 'Red Archive'

Dynamis One, led by former Blue Archive developer Park Byeong-Lim, had already sparked interest when it was founded in April of this year. Park, along with other key developers, left Nexon to establish the new studio, raising eyebrows among Blue Archive fans. The unveiling of Project KV intensified the online firestorm as fans quickly pointed out the similarities between the new project and Blue Archive. These ranged from the overall aesthetic and music to the core concept of a Japanese-style city inhabited by weapon-wielding female students.

A particularly contentious element was the inclusion of a "Master" character in Project KV, reminiscent of Blue Archive's "Sensei," and the halo-like adornments above the characters' heads, similar to those in Blue Archive. These halos, which hold significant narrative weight in Blue Archive, led to accusations of plagiarism, with many fans feeling that Project KV was attempting to capitalize on Blue Archive's success by adopting similar visual identifiers. Some even speculated that "KV" stood for "Kivotos," the fictional city in Blue Archive, leading to nicknames like "Red Archive" as a perceived derivative of the original IP.

Despite these concerns, Kim Yong-ha, the general producer of Blue Archive, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a post on Twitter (X) from a Blue Archive fan account that clarified Project KV's lack of connection to the original IP. The post stated, "Project KV is not a sequel to Blue Archive. It is not a spin-off either. It is a game being developed by a company established by employees who left Nexon Games, the developer of Blue Archive."

The overwhelming negative response ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. While some expressed disappointment at the lost potential, many viewed the cancellation as a justified consequence of the alleged plagiarism. Whether Dynamis One will learn from this experience and pursue a more distinct vision for future projects remains to be seen.