Project KV has just released its second teaser. Read on to learn more about the game, the teaser’s contents, and the reaction it received from the gaming community.
Project KV, a Game From Ex-Blue Archive Devs, Draws Polarizing Reactions
Project KV is a new title announced by Korean publisher DynamisOne, which notably features former staff of the hit mobile gacha game Blue Archive. Its first teaser promotional video was released on August 18, 2024, which only contained a brief story prologue presented with full voice acting as well as an introduction to the studios involved with its development.
Two weeks later, the second teaser for the upcoming title Project KV has just been released. It provides crucial character designs and introductions for some of its main characters, more details about the story, as well as a list of the game’s key figures.
The teaser has attracted widespread attention from the gaming community, particularly from gacha communities. However, the reason probably isn’t what most would expect.
Adverse Reactions Flood Communities And The Comments Section
After players realized who Project KV’s staff were, many took to the comments section of the video to voice their displeasure at what they felt was a betrayal of the Blue Archive community. This is mainly due to Project KV’s staff being composed of former Blue Archive developers, such as DoReM and Isakusan, who left the studio with well wishes from the players, only for them to end up working on a game that shares many similarities with the one they left behind.
This has caused comments such as "실패하면 반역 성공하면 혁명 아닙니까!" (TL: "Failure is treason, success is revolution!") or "流石に頭の輪っかはやり過ぎでは？" (TL: "I thought the stones and the ring on the head were too much," referencing the character designs)
Players have also noted that many of the character designs bear striking resemblances to characters from Blue Archive, which has further fueled the discourse.
Another point the audience noticed, particularly in English-speaking communities, is that a release is scheduled for this year's Comic Market in Japan, often referred to as Comiket (コミケ). This event will be held on December 29-30, 2024, at the Tokyo Big Sight. This indicates that Project KV will likely be a doujinsoft, or self-published software. A popular example of a doujinsoft game is the first Fate/stay night visual novel. If it's confirmed to be a doujinsoft game, a global or English release seems unlikely, as these games don’t have a good track record of getting one unless they’re picked up by a larger publisher or receive fan translations.
Hence, the English and Korean-speaking countries will unlikely be able to enjoy the game when it comes out unless an official or fan translation is made.
Project KV Will Likely Be A Visual Novel
According to isakusan, Project KV’s scenario director, it will be a visual novel-type game and not a gacha game, at least with regards to the Winter Comiket release. The game’s official website provides a short synopsis of the plot, which roughly translates to:
"A nostalgic school action drama about girls with swords!
A fun and lively story set in the Dormitory City Kavila,
where hundreds of dormitories are gathered, finally begins. This is an outrageous story that crosses genres, but it is also a familiar one we already know."
"The Journey Begins
The children finally arrive at the place they are meant to be.
With their own circumstances and stories in their hearts, the children take their swords and board the Nayuwai train.
The destination is the “dormitory city of Kavila.” The ultimate goal is the Ivory Tower, where the ancient school children gather to carry on the teachings of the past.
The Ivory Tower is now a huge “dormitory city,” where hundreds of dormitories have been built to house the students. Children who have left their respective hometowns gather here to live, study, and fight together.
Then one day...
The story begins with your awakening at the central station in Kavila. You are holding a portable game console and a few coins in one hand, and an unexpired Nayu railway pass in the other.
"I have been waiting for you, my master.""
Upon the official website’s launch, Blue Archive players immediately noticed lore similarities between Project KV and Blue Archive through the former's Story page. Comparisons drawn include Blue Archive’s "Academy City" with Project KV’s "Dormitory City," the school setting, and the reference to the player being "Master" instead of "Teacher."
The game’s main themes are unconfirmed as of the moment. However, Project KV’s first celebration artwork does hint at a much higher target age compared to Blue Archive.
