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 game's abrupt cancellation.

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, announced the cancellation of Project KV on September 9th via Twitter (X). The statement apologized for the controversy sparked by the game's similarities to Blue Archive, a popular mobile gacha game. The studio acknowledged fan concerns and pledged to avoid similar issues in future projects. All Project KV materials were subsequently removed from online platforms. While expressing regret to supporters, Dynamis One committed to exceeding fan expectations in their future endeavors.

Initial promotional videos released on August 18th and August 30th showcased the game's story, characters, and voice acting. However, the project's cancellation came swiftly after the second teaser, surprising many. While the developers may be disappointed, online reaction to the cancellation has been largely positive.

Blue Archive and the "Red Archive" Controversy

The formation of Dynamis One in April 2024, led by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, initially raised eyebrows among Blue Archive fans. The subsequent unveiling of Project KV ignited a firestorm of criticism. Fans quickly highlighted numerous similarities between the two games, from aesthetics and music to the core concept: a city populated by weapon-wielding female students.

The presence of a "Master" character, reminiscent of Blue Archive's "Sensei," and the use of halo-like adornments above characters, directly echoing Blue Archive's iconic visual element, fueled the controversy.

These halos, significant narrative symbols in Blue Archive, were a major point of contention. Many felt Project KV was improperly leveraging Blue Archive's success through visual imitation, leading to accusations of plagiarism and the game being dubbed "Red Archive," a perceived derivative work. Speculation arose that "KV" was a reference to "Kivotos," Blue Archive's fictional city.

Despite this, Kim Yong-ha, Blue Archive's general producer, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a fan clarification on Twitter (X) stating Project KV was not a sequel or spin-off.

The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. While some expressed disappointment, many viewed the cancellation as a just outcome. The future direction of Dynamis One and whether they will learn from this experience remains to be seen.