Project KV, a visual novel developed by former Blue Archive creators, has been cancelled due to significant backlash over its striking resemblance to its predecessor. This article explores the reasons behind the project's abrupt termination.
Project KV Cancellation Following Backlash Over Blue Archive Similarities
Dynamis One Apologizes for the Controversy
Dynamis One, a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers at Nexon Games, has cancelled its highly anticipated Project KV. The game, initially generating considerable buzz, faced intense criticism for its uncanny similarities to Blue Archive, the mobile gacha game the team previously worked on.
On September 9th, Dynamis One announced the cancellation on Twitter (X), issuing an apology for the resulting controversy and acknowledging concerns regarding the game's striking resemblance to Blue Archive. The studio affirmed its commitment to avoiding future conflicts and confirmed the removal of all Project KV related materials online. They expressed regret to fans who had supported the project and promised to strive harder to meet future expectations.
Project KV's initial promotional video, released August 18th, showcased a voiced story prologue and introduced the development team. A second teaser, released two weeks later, provided further details on characters and storyline. However, the project was unexpectedly cancelled a week after the second teaser's release. While disappointing for Dynamis One, the online reaction to the cancellation was largely celebratory.
Blue Archive vs. "Red Archive"
Dynamis One, a Korean publisher headed by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, sparked controversy upon its founding in April. Park's departure from Nexon, along with key developers, raised immediate concerns among the Blue Archive fanbase. The subsequent unveiling of Project KV only intensified this scrutiny.
Fans quickly highlighted the substantial similarities between Project KV and Blue Archive, ranging from aesthetics and music to the core concept: a Japanese-style city populated by weapon-wielding female students. The presence of a "Master" character, reminiscent of Blue Archive's "Sensei," and halo-like adornments above characters, directly echoing Blue Archive's visual identifiers, further fueled the controversy.
These halos, in particular, proved highly contentious. In Blue Archive, they carry significant narrative weight, serving as key visual symbols. Their inclusion in Project KV raised concerns about potential IP infringement and the perception of Project KV as a blatant copy. The speculated meaning of "KV" as "Kivotos" (Blue Archive's fictional city), leading to the nickname "Red Archive," further fueled accusations of derivative work.
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 neither a sequel nor a spin-off of Blue Archive, but a separate project from a company formed by former Nexon employees.
The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. While some expressed disappointment over lost potential, many considered the cancellation a justified response to the perceived plagiarism. The future direction of Dynamis One and whether they will learn from this experience remains to be seen.
