Despite the frenzy that saw a limited run of 7,500 units sell out in a heartbeat, the release of the 'Blue Archive Bicycle Card' has been pushed to next year. Furthermore, the studio is offering exchange and refund options to existing buyers.

Nexon Games announced on the 1st via the official Blue Archive website that certain artwork within the 'Blue Archive Bicycle Card' collection is set for an overhaul. Initially revealed back in August as a limited collaboration item, the 7,500-deck run saw such overwhelming demand that the studio opened additional pre-orders. While these were initially slated for a December delivery, the design revisions mean collectors will have to exercise a bit more patience.

The saga began in late September when eagle-eyed players flagged that specific outfits on the cards bore a striking resemblance to those from another title. Nexon Games launched an internal investigation and confirmed that an external contractor had indeed lifted designs far too closely from another game.

In response, Nexon Games is replacing the artwork on the four 'Spade' cards. They are offering full exchange or refund processes for existing buyers and have teased a second round of pre-orders for those still keen on picking up the revised deck.

For those who grabbed the initial stock during the online pre-sale, you have the option to swap for the new product or request a refund. Do note that if you opt for an exchange, the original deck must be returned. If you prefer to keep the original, no return is necessary. Those looking to swap or refund can follow the link provided during the second pre-order window.

Offline buyers aren't being left behind, with a similar exchange and refund process in place. For those wanting the new version, the studio will arrange for the collection of the original goods from your registered address and ship out the replacements once production wraps up.

Online pre-order customers who were expecting a December delivery can now expect the revised deck to arrive sometime in the first quarter of next year. If you've had enough of the waiting game, you can head over to your purchase history page to request a refund immediately.

Regarding the oversight, Nexon Games stated, "We acknowledge the gaps in our inspection process. Moving forward, we are tightening our guidelines, implementing automated reference-checking tools, and sharing past incident reports to ensure this never happens again."