Love and Deepspace, a global phenomenon from Chinese developer Papergames that has surpassed 80 million downloads and garnered over a billion dollars in revenue, is facing scrutiny from its queer male player base regarding issues of homophobia and exclusionary practices. While the game is undeniably a hit directed at a female audience, the experiences of gay and queer men who engage with the otome title reveal a pattern of discrimination that extends beyond cultural censorship concerns.
PR Restrictions and Community Policing
Reports suggest a concerted effort by publisher Infold to downplay the game's appeal to non-heterosexual audiences. At a press event for the game's second anniversary, a representative from Infold allegedly asked a journalist not to include footage of male attendees, citing fears that it might suggest the game embraces gay relationships. The journalist, Jessica Cogswell, told Kotaku that while the event was predominantly female, a small percentage of men were present. She declined to comply with the request and noted increased supervision for the remainder of the event. Since Infold began handling PR internally, Cogswell also reported receiving less outreach.
Beyond official PR, the game's official community hubs have also drawn criticism. The official subreddit for Love and Deepspace has a rule explicitly prohibiting "BL (boys’ love) content," which includes images and discussions of same-sex pairings. This policy has led to the removal of threads and a perceived erasure of queer fans and their interpretations of the game's male characters.
Personal Experiences of Exclusion
Queer players have shared accounts of facing harassment and exclusion when attempting to engage with the game's official community. One player, who wished to remain anonymous, described receiving insults and messages accusing him of "invading" a space dedicated to women after expressing appreciation for the game as a gay man. His thread on the game's subreddit was eventually removed by moderators, who cited a potential for escalating targeted behavior. The player interpreted this as an act of "gay erasure," aimed at appeasing a specific segment of the fandom.
Another player, Kaine, a transmasc queer man, recounted the anxiety of interacting within official channels. He and his partner created a separate Discord server for queer players and allies due to negative reactions they had witnessed towards men engaging with the game and the idea of romantic male pairings.
Leo, a transmasc fan, initially dismissed the anti-BL rules as the company sticking to canon storylines. However, after witnessing the extent of sexual content the game does depict, which he feels pushes boundaries with Chinese censorship laws, he concluded that the restrictions on queer content stem from active homophobia rather than mere compliance. "I’ve seen the face behind the pretty boys, and it’s sneering at me in disgust," Leo stated, explaining his decision to uninstall the game.
The Valko Controversy and Character Design Debates
The cancellation of the game's planned werewolf love interest, Valko, before his release, further fueled the controversy. While some criticism stemmed from concerns about development resources, a significant portion accused Valko's design of catering to Western or gay audiences. This led to accusations that Papergames was attempting to attract male players. Some fans argued that the game's existing male characters already possess designs that appeal to queer men, citing two characters who they believe resemble "baby gay twinks."
Navigating Censorship and Inclusivity
Papergames operates under China's strict media regulations, which heavily restrict depictions of queer relationships. This has led to a defense from some players who argue the developer is merely trying to avoid government repercussions. However, the queer fans interviewed believe that while the cultural context is understandable, it does not excuse the active erasure of their presence. They point to the game's willingness to push censorship boundaries with explicit sexual content as evidence that the exclusion of queer fans is a choice, not a necessity.
"If they can do that, I wouldn’t think it would be a big deal to show that there are male fans of the game, unless of course the company is actively homophobic," Leo remarked, referencing a particularly explicit scene.
Finding Community Outside Official Channels
Despite the issues, pockets of the Love and Deepspace fandom have created their own inclusive spaces. Dedicated Discord servers, roleplay communities on platforms like Bluesky, and unofficial subreddits openly welcome queer artists and content. These fan-led initiatives aim to provide a safe haven for players who feel unwelcome in the game's mainstream communities. However, some, like Kaine, lament the fracturing of the fandom, advocating for a more unified and open approach to enjoying the game together, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. For others, like Leo, the experience has been a definitive reason to disengage, citing a clear message from the developers that queer fans are not wanted.