Welcome to this week's Weekly View, where we gather the major stories of the week. This time, we’ll cover the controversy surrounding Dynamis One’s new title Project KV, Riot Games' price hike for in-game currency, and Blizzard Entertainment's development of a new AAA RPG-FPS game.
■ Controversy Over Dynamis One’s New Game Project KV
Newly established developer Dynamis One revealed detailed information about their upcoming game Project KV on the 1st. However, the response from users, both in Korea and abroad, has been less than favorable.
Dynamis One comprises key developers who previously worked on Blue Archive at NEXON Games’ MX Studio, including the main producer, art director, and scenario director. After leaving NEXON Games earlier this year, they regrouped at Dynamis One to work on Project KV.
The issue is that much of the information revealed about Project KV seems strikingly similar to their previous work, Blue Archive. When comparing elements like the main synopsis and keywords, aside from the main color scheme and weapons, the similarities are too strong to ignore.
For instance, the way the game refers to the player, the starting point of the game, the academy setting, the naming conventions for cities, the character designs, the layout of the introduction screens, and even the costume concepts for the female characters all bear a strong resemblance to Blue Archive.
One of the most notable examples is the “halo” above the characters’ heads, a visual symbol of Blue Archive. In Project KV, characters have a ring called the “aureole” above their heads.
As a result, many are mistaking Project KV for a sequel or a spin-off of Blue Archive. In response, MX Studio’s Executive Producer Kim Yong-ha retweeted a Japanese user who said, "Project KV is not a spin-off of Blue Archive,” subtly addressing the situation.
This controversy has sparked backlash not only in Korea but also in Japan, where Blue Archive is quite popular. Currently, neither Dynamis One nor NEXON Games has issued an official statement. Given that NEXON recently faced a similar situation which led to legal disputes, it’s worth keeping an eye on how this situation develops.
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■ Riot Games to Raise Prices for In-Game Currency, 6-19% Increase in Korea
Riot Games has announced that effective September 23rd, there will be an adjustment to the prices of various in-game currencies, including RP, VP, Legends of Runeterra coins, and Wild Cores.
According to Riot Games, the price adjustment reflects changes in exchange rates and local economic conditions. Additionally, they plan to standardize recharge amounts for consistency. For instance, the PC version of League of Legends will now offer a 1,380 RP option, and recharge units will change in some regions.
In Korea, prices are rising across the board. RP and VP will increase by 14%, Legends of Runeterra coins by 19%, and Wild Cores by 6%. Riot Games has stated that they will offer benefits before the price hike, including an additional 10% bonus on purchases made before the increase.
Some regions will see even steeper hikes. For instance, in Ukraine, prices will rise by 64-76% depending on the currency, while in Turkey, prices will increase by 15-63%. Other regions include Japan with a 12-20% increase, the Philippines with a 7-40% increase, and Taiwan with a 33% increase.
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■ Is Blizzard Entertainment Developing a AAA RPG-FPS Game?
After a long period without a new IP, it seems Blizzard Entertainment is working on a new AAA game. The news came to light through the profile of a current executive.
Chris McCabe, a Director of Product Management at Blizzard Entertainment, revealed on his LinkedIn page that he is overseeing an unannounced AAA RPG-FPS title for PC and consoles. After this news spread, McCabe quietly removed the RPG-FPS reference from his profile.
김태만 기자 ktman21c@gamevu.co.kr
