On September 8th, Dynamis One and Studio Alaya announced the cancellation of “Project KV”“, just a week after the release of its first trailer. All promotional materials related to the game have been removed from official platforms. “Project KV” had been pitched as a “nostalgic school action drama,” and was scheduled to be released in 2024.
in memory of what could've been.
PV: Project KV / プロジェクトKV pic.twitter.com/qZdv4XhPY8— my first love mends my final days (@FirstMends) September 8, 2024
The game's story was set in Kapila, known as the “Bedroom City”, and followed a cast of young swordswomen, with the player taking on the role of their master. Key members of the development team included scriptwriter Isakusan, art director DoReMi, and composer Mitsukiyo, who previously worked on Nexon Games' hit title, “Blue Archive“.
The project had been teased since August 18, when its existence was first hinted at, followed by a formal announcement and trailer reveal on September 1. Despite being the first title from Dynamis One and Studio Alaya, “Project KV” generated a lot of hype, due to the involvement of the aforementioned creators who shared a background in “Blue Archive.” Additionally, similarities in the settings, such as the dormitory system and the auras of the students, were pointed out, which increased the connection between the two games.
However, these similarities also became a cause of controversy. In particular, among the “Blue Archive” gaming community in Japan and Korea, many began to worry about the future of “Project KV” and its relationship to Nexon’s title. Some fans even speculated that the tentative name, “Project KV,” was a reference to Kivotos, the main stage of “Blue Archive.”
Rumors quickly began to circulate, suggesting that some Nexon Games employees may have been recruited to work on the new project. Although these claims were not confirmed, tensions between the two communities continued to grow. Finally, on September 8, Dynamis One announced that “Project KV” had been cancelled and all related material would be deleted.
Following the announcement, social media was filled with comments from fans, expressing both surprise and disappointment. One user commented: “Huh? They really cancelled it…?“, while another simply wrote: “It's all over“, reflecting widespread confusion. The reaction of some was more forceful, blaming critical voices within the “Blue Archive” community, which supposedly influenced the decision to cancel the game: “It was lost before it could see the light of day because of a group of fanatics with exaggerated opinions..”
On the other hand, there were those who regretted the lost opportunity: “I was actually looking forward to it… but the Blue Archive community has always been a bit complicated..” There were even more philosophical comments, such as: “He could not be born into this world… How sad“Other players expressed relief, fearing that the project could have made the situation worse: “I guess it's better that it was cancelled before it got worse.“. However, some couldn't help but question what really happened: “In the end, what was all this about? I hope at least the cancellation stops the chaos.“.
Despite all this, the project's character design was praised positively: “What a pity. The character design in 'Project KV' was very good. Although, considering the situation, it seems like it was inevitable.“. The cancellation of “Project KV” has left many players with more questions than answers, and has sparked much debate about the future of similar projects that share elements with established titles.
Fountain: Otakomu
