Project KV Cancelled After Negative Reactions Over Blue Archive Similarities

Dynamis One, a studio formed by former Blue Archive developers, has scrapped its upcoming visual novel, Project KV, following intense backlash over its striking resemblance to its predecessor. Let's examine the reasons behind this cancellation.

Project KV Cancellation: A Response to Backlash

Dynamis One Apologizes for Project KV

Dynamis One's September 9th announcement on Twitter (X) confirmed the cancellation of Project KV. The statement acknowledged the controversy surrounding the game's similarities to Blue Archive and apologized for the resulting upset. The studio pledged to avoid similar issues in the future and confirmed the removal of all Project KV materials online. While expressing regret to supporters, Dynamis One vowed to improve and better meet fan expectations.

Initial promotional videos released in August generated excitement. However, the uncanny resemblance to Blue Archive quickly ignited a firestorm. The cancellation followed shortly after a second teaser. While disappointing for Dynamis One, many online celebrated the project's demise.

The "Red Archive" Controversy

Dynamis One, founded by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim in April, immediately drew scrutiny from the Blue Archive fanbase. The subsequent reveal of Project KV only amplified concerns. The similarities were undeniable, from the aesthetic and music to the core concept: a city populated by weapon-wielding female students, reminiscent of Blue Archive's setting.

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

The use of these halos raised accusations of plagiarism and fueled the perception of Project KV as a blatant copy. The speculation that "KV" stood for "Kivotos" (Blue Archive's city) led to the moniker "Red Archive," highlighting the perceived derivative nature of the project.

While Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy via a fan account's clarification of Project KV's lack of official connection to Blue Archive, the damage was done.

The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. While some lamented the lost potential, many viewed the cancellation as a fitting consequence of the alleged plagiarism. Dynamis One's future and whether they'll learn from this experience remain uncertain.