Project KV Axed Due to Concerns of Similarity to Blue Archive

Former Blue Archive Developers Cancel Project KV Amidst Plagiarism Accusations

Dynamis One, a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers, has pulled the plug on its highly anticipated visual novel, Project KV. The swift cancellation follows a wave of criticism over the game's striking resemblance to its predecessor.

The studio issued a public apology on September 9th, acknowledging the controversy surrounding Project KV's similarities to Nexon's Blue Archive. They stated their commitment to avoiding future conflicts and confirmed the removal of all Project KV related materials from online platforms. While expressing regret to fans, Dynamis One vowed to improve and better meet expectations in future endeavors.

Project KV's initial promotional video (August 18th) and subsequent character/story teasers (two weeks later) generated buzz, but the negative reception ultimately led to the project's demise just a week after the second teaser’s release. While the cancellation may be a setback for Dynamis One, online sentiment largely celebrates the decision.

The "Red Archive" Controversy

Dynamis One's formation in April, spearheaded by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, initially raised eyebrows among Blue Archive fans. However, the unveiling of Project KV ignited a firestorm. Critics highlighted numerous similarities, from the aesthetic and music to the core concept: a Japanese-style city populated by weapon-wielding female students and a "Master" character echoing Blue Archive's "Sensei."

The most contentious point was the inclusion of halo-like adornments above characters' heads, mirroring a key visual element in Blue Archive with significant narrative importance. This, coupled with speculation that "KV" stood for "Kivotos" (Blue Archive's fictional city), fueled accusations of plagiarism and the "Red Archive" moniker.

Although Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a clarifying fan post emphasizing the lack of direct connection between the two IPs, the negative backlash proved insurmountable.

The cancellation of Project KV serves as a cautionary tale. While some may mourn the lost potential, many view the outcome as a fitting response to the perceived plagiarism. Dynamis One's future direction and whether they will learn from this experience remains to be seen.