Former Blue Archive developers' visual novel, Project KV, has been scrapped following intense backlash. Let's explore the reasons behind this cancellation.
Project KV Cancellation: A Response to Backlash
Dynamis One Apologizes for Project KV Controversy
Dynamis One, a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers, has officially canceled Project KV. The game, initially generating considerable buzz, faced heavy criticism due to its striking resemblance to Blue Archive, the mobile gacha game they previously worked on at Nexon Games.
In a September 9th announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Dynamis One apologized for the controversy surrounding Project KV, acknowledging the concerns about its similarities to Blue Archive. They stated their commitment to avoiding similar issues in the future and confirmed the project's termination. The studio also expressed regret to fans and pledged to remove all Project KV-related materials online. They concluded by promising to strive harder to meet fan expectations.
The initial Project KV promotional video, released August 18th, showcased a voiced story prologue. A second teaser, released two weeks later, provided more details on characters and storyline. However, the project was canceled just a week after the second teaser's launch. While a setback for Dynamis One, the online reaction to the cancellation was largely positive.
Blue Archive and the "Red Archive" Controversy
Dynamis One, a Korean publisher led by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, sparked discussion upon its formation in April. Park's departure from Nexon, along with other key developers, raised eyebrows among Blue Archive fans.
The subsequent unveiling of Project KV ignited a firestorm. Fans immediately highlighted the striking similarities to Blue Archive, 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 use of halo-like adornments above characters, mirroring those in Blue Archive, further fueled the controversy.
These halos, significant narrative elements in Blue Archive, were particularly contentious. Their presence in Project KV raised concerns about leveraging Blue Archive's success through visual similarities, leading to accusations of plagiarism and the game being dubbed a "rip-off." The "KV" moniker was even speculated to be short for "Kivotos" (Blue Archive's city), leading to the "Red Archive" nickname.
Despite this, Kim Yong-ha, Blue Archive's general producer, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a fan clarification on X stating that Project KV was not a sequel or spin-off.
The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. Dynamis One's announcement lacked specifics, but the cancellation is widely seen as a consequence of the plagiarism accusations. Whether Dynamis One will learn from this experience and pursue a more original approach in future projects remains to be seen.
