Blue Archive Clone Project KV Aborted

Former Blue Archive Developers Cancel Project KV Amidst Plagiarism Accusations

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

Dynamis One issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter) on September 9th, acknowledging the controversy surrounding Project KV's similarities to Blue Archive. The statement expressed regret for the disruption caused and confirmed the project's termination, with all related online materials to be removed. The studio pledged to improve and better meet fan expectations in future endeavors.

Initial teasers for Project KV, released in August, showcased full voice acting and character introductions. However, the negative backlash quickly escalated, leading to the project's swift cancellation just a week after the second teaser's release. While disappointing for some, the online reaction to the cancellation has been largely positive.

The "Red Archive" Controversy

The formation of Dynamis One in April, spearheaded by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, initially raised eyebrows among the Blue Archive community. The subsequent reveal of Project KV ignited a firestorm. Fans highlighted numerous similarities, from the aesthetic and music to the core concept: a 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, a key visual element in Blue Archive with significant narrative importance. This led to accusations of plagiarism and the game being dubbed "Red Archive," a perceived derivative of Blue Archive.

While speculation ran rampant, including the theory that "KV" stood for "Kivotos" (Blue Archive's fictional city), Kim Yong-ha, Blue Archive's general producer, indirectly addressed the controversy, clarifying on X that Project KV was not a sequel or spin-off.

The overwhelmingly negative response ultimately forced Dynamis One's hand. While some lament the lost potential, many see the cancellation as a justifiable consequence of the perceived plagiarism. The future direction of Dynamis One and whether they will learn from this experience remains to be seen.