Project KV Cancelled After Negative Reactions Over Blue Archive Similarities

Project KV, a visual novel developed by former Blue Archive creators, has been cancelled following a significant backlash. This article explores the reasons behind the project's abrupt termination.

Project KV Cancellation Amidst Backlash Over Blue Archive Resemblance

Developer Apology and Project Cancellation

Dynamis One, a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers, announced the cancellation of their anticipated Project KV on September 9th via Twitter (X). The statement acknowledged the controversy surrounding the game's striking similarities to Blue Archive, the mobile gacha game they previously worked on at Nexon Games. Dynamis One apologized for the resulting uproar, emphasizing their commitment to avoiding future conflicts. All Project KV materials were subsequently removed from online platforms. The studio concluded by expressing regret to fans and promising future projects that better meet expectations.

Project KV's initial promotional video (August 18th) and a subsequent teaser (two weeks later) generated excitement. However, the project's cancellation, a week after the second teaser, came as a surprise. While disappointing for Dynamis One, the online reaction to the cancellation was largely celebratory.

Blue Archive and the "Red Archive" Controversy

Dynamis One, led by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, sparked debate upon its founding in April. The departure of key developers from Nexon fueled speculation among the Blue Archive fanbase. The unveiling of Project KV further intensified this, with fans immediately highlighting its close resemblance to Blue Archive – from aesthetics and music to the core concept of weapon-wielding female students in a Japanese-style city.

The inclusion of a "Master" character, echoing Blue Archive's "Sensei," and the use of halo-like adornments above characters, similar to those in Blue Archive, were particularly contentious. In Blue Archive, these halos carry significant narrative weight, making their appearance in Project KV a focal point of the plagiarism accusations.

The speculation that "KV" stood for "Kivotos" (Blue Archive's fictional city), leading to the moniker "Red Archive," fueled the controversy. Accusations of blatant rip-off and plagiarism were widespread.

Although Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a fan account's clarification on Twitter (X) stating Project KV's lack of direct connection to Blue Archive, the damage was done.

The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately resulted in Project KV's cancellation. While some expressed disappointment over lost potential, many viewed the cancellation as a justified consequence of the perceived plagiarism. The future direction of Dynamis One remains uncertain.