Dynamis One, a studio founded by former Blue Archive developers, has scrapped its upcoming visual novel, Project KV, following a backlash over its striking resemblance to its predecessor. Let's explore the reasons behind this cancellation.
Project KV Cancellation: A Response to Backlash
Dynamis One's Apology
Dynamis One announced the cancellation of Project KV on September 9th via Twitter (X), issuing an apology for the controversy sparked by the game's similarities to Blue Archive. They acknowledged fan concerns and stated their commitment to avoiding similar issues in the future. All online Project KV materials have been removed. The studio concluded by promising to improve future projects to better meet fan expectations.
Project KV's initial promotional video (August 18th) and a subsequent character and story teaser (two weeks later) generated significant buzz. However, the project's abrupt cancellation a week after the second teaser's release surprised many, with online reaction largely celebrating the decision.
The "Red Archive" Controversy
Dynamis One's formation in April 2024, led by former Blue Archive developer Park Byeong-Lim, initially raised eyebrows among Blue Archive fans. The subsequent unveiling of Project KV ignited a firestorm. Fans quickly noted significant similarities, from aesthetics and music to the core concept: a city populated by weapon-wielding female students.
The presence of a "Master" character echoing Blue Archive's "Sensei," and especially the halo-like adornments above characters, mirroring a key visual element from Blue Archive, fueled the controversy. These halos, carrying narrative significance in Blue Archive, were seen as a blatant attempt to capitalize on the original game's success.
Accusations of plagiarism and the nickname "Red Archive" (a perceived derivative of Blue Archive, with "KV" speculated to stand for "Kivotos," Blue Archive's city) spread rapidly. While Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a clarifying fan post emphasizing the lack of official connection between the two projects, the damage was done.
The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to Project KV's cancellation. While some expressed disappointment, many saw the cancellation as a justified consequence of the perceived plagiarism. Dynamis One's future and whether they'll learn from this experience remains to be seen.
