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 game, announced to much fanfare, faced intense backlash due to its striking resemblance to Blue Archive, the mobile gacha game they previously worked on at Nexon Games.
The cancellation, announced via X (formerly Twitter) on September 9th, followed an apology from Dynamis One for the controversy. The studio acknowledged concerns regarding the similarities and stated their commitment to avoiding future issues. All Project KV materials are being removed from online platforms. While expressing regret to supporters, Dynamis One pledged to improve and better meet fan expectations in future endeavors.
Project KV's initial promotional video (August 18th) and a subsequent character/story teaser (two weeks later) generated excitement, only to be abruptly followed by cancellation a week after the second teaser. While the developers may be disappointed, online reaction to the cancellation has been largely positive.
Uncanny Resemblance Sparks Outrage
The formation of Dynamis One in April by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim and other key developers initially raised eyebrows among Blue Archive fans. However, Project KV's unveiling ignited a firestorm. The similarities were undeniable, ranging from art style 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 the use of halo-like adornments—a key visual element in Blue Archive with significant narrative importance—further fueled the controversy. Many viewed these similarities as an attempt to capitalize on Blue Archive's success, leading to accusations of plagiarism and the game being dubbed "Red Archive" by some.
Although Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy via a fan account clarifying the lack of official connection between the two projects, the negative feedback proved insurmountable.
The swift cancellation, without detailed explanation, leaves the future of Dynamis One uncertain. While some may mourn lost potential, the cancellation is widely seen as a consequence of the perceived plagiarism. Whether the studio will learn from this experience and deliver a more original project remains to be seen.
