Project KV Scrapped Amidst Blue Archive Plagiarism Concerns

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

Project KV Cancellation: An Apology from Dynamis One

Dynamis One, a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers, announced the cancellation of their anticipated Project KV on September 9th via Twitter (X). Their statement acknowledged the controversy surrounding the game's striking similarities to Blue Archive, the mobile gacha title they previously worked on at Nexon Games. The studio apologized for the resulting disruption and stated their commitment to avoiding such issues in the future. All Project KV related materials are being removed online, and the team expressed regret to fans who had shown support. They concluded by pledging to improve and better meet fan expectations.

The initial Project KV promotional video, released August 18th, generated considerable buzz. A second teaser followed two weeks later, showcasing characters and story elements. However, the project's cancellation came swiftly after the second teaser's release. 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. Park's departure from Nexon, along with key developers, raised concerns among the Blue Archive fanbase. These concerns intensified with the unveiling of Project KV, which drew immediate comparisons to Blue Archive. Fans highlighted similarities in aesthetics, music, and core concept: a Japanese-style city populated by weapon-wielding female students.

The presence of a "Master" character, echoing Blue Archive's "Sensei," further fueled the controversy. The most contentious point was the inclusion of halo-like adornments above characters' heads, mirroring a significant visual element in Blue Archive.

These halos, far from mere decoration in Blue Archive, held narrative importance, making their appearance in Project KV a major source of contention. Many felt it was an attempt to capitalize on Blue Archive's success, leading to accusations of plagiarism and the "Red Archive" nickname (a derivative of "Kivotos," the city in Blue Archive, speculated to be what "KV" represented).

While Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a fan clarification on Twitter (X) stating Project KV's lack of direct connection to Blue Archive, the overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to its cancellation.

The cancellation, announced without specific details, leaves unanswered questions about Dynamis One's future and whether they will learn from this experience. While some may lament the lost potential, many view the cancellation as a justified response to the perceived plagiarism.