Project KV Cancelled Amid Controversy Over Blue Archive Similarities
Dynamis One, a development studio founded by former Blue Archive developers, has officially canceled their much-anticipated game, Project KV. The decision comes in the wake of significant backlash due to the game's striking resemblances to Blue Archive, a popular mobile gacha game developed by Nexon Games, where the team previously worked.
Project KV Developers Issue Apology
On September 9th, Dynamis One took to Twitter (X) to announce the cancellation of Project KV. The studio expressed regret for the controversy and the commotion caused by the project, acknowledging the concerns about its similarities to Blue Archive. They committed to avoiding future issues and announced the removal of all Project KV materials from online platforms. The studio also apologized to fans who had shown support for the game and promised to strive harder to meet fan expectations in the future.
Project KV was first teased to the public on August 18th with a promotional video that included a story prologue and introduced the development team. A second teaser followed two weeks later, providing more details about the game's characters and narrative. However, just a week after the second teaser, the project was abruptly canceled.
While the cancellation marks a somber moment for Dynamis One, online reactions have largely been celebratory, with many users expressing relief over the project's termination.
Blue Archive vs. 'Red Archive'
Dynamis One, led by former Blue Archive developer Park Byeong-Lim, sparked interest when it was established in April of this year. The studio's announcement of Project KV a few months later ignited a fierce online debate. Fans quickly noted the similarities between Project KV and Blue Archive, from the aesthetic and music to the core concept of a Japanese-style city populated by armed female students.
The inclusion of a "Master" character in Project KV, similar to Blue Archive's "Sensei," and the use of halo-like adornments above characters' heads, reminiscent of Blue Archive's iconic halos, further fueled the controversy. In Blue Archive, these halos are not just decorative but carry significant narrative importance, symbolizing the game's intellectual property.
The use of similar halos in Project KV led to accusations of plagiarism, with many fans believing the project was attempting to exploit Blue Archive's success. Some even speculated that "KV" might stand for "Kivotos," the fictional city in Blue Archive, leading to the nickname "Red Archive" for Project KV, suggesting it was a derivative of the original IP.
In response to the controversy, Kim Yong-ha, the general producer of Blue Archive, shared a post on Twitter (X) from a fan account clarifying that Project KV was not a sequel or spin-off of Blue Archive but a new game developed by former Nexon employees.
Despite these clarifications, the overwhelming negative feedback ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. While some expressed disappointment over the lost potential, many viewed the cancellation as a justified response to the perceived plagiarism. It remains to be seen whether Dynamis One will take this experience as a lesson and pursue a more original vision in their future endeavors.
