Former Blue Archive Developers Cancel Project KV Amidst Plagiarism Accusations

Project KV, a visual novel developed by Dynamis One – a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers – has been cancelled following significant backlash over its striking similarities to its predecessor. The cancellation, announced on September 9th via X (formerly Twitter), came just weeks after the game's second promotional video.

Dynamis One issued a public apology, acknowledging the controversy and the concerns surrounding Project KV's resemblance to Blue Archive. They stated that all project materials would be removed from online platforms. The statement concluded with a promise to strive for higher standards in future endeavors.

The initial Project KV teaser, released August 18th, featured a voiced prologue and introduced the development team. A second teaser, showcasing characters and story elements, followed two weeks later. However, the overwhelmingly negative response to the perceived similarities quickly led to the project's demise. While some expressed disappointment, online sentiment largely celebrated the cancellation.

The controversy centered on the numerous parallels between Project KV and Blue Archive, ranging from aesthetic style and music to core concepts like a city populated by weapon-wielding female students and the presence of 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.

The use of these halos fueled accusations of plagiarism, with many labeling Project KV a "Red Archive" – a derivative work – speculating that "KV" even alluded to "Kivotos," Blue Archive's fictional city. 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 intense negative reaction ultimately forced Dynamis One's hand, resulting in Project KV's cancellation without further explanation. The incident raises questions about the studio's future direction and whether they will learn from this experience to develop more original projects.