A vocal segment of the Love and Deepspace fandom is fiercely advocating for the return of Valko, a werewolf character whose planned inclusion in the popular mobile gacha romance game was abruptly canceled by developer Papergames. Petitions demanding his reinstatement have collectively amassed over 310,000 signatures in a matter of days, highlighting a significant player backlash.
Valko, described as a tech CEO and a literal werewolf, was announced as the sixth male character for the game, which boasts over 80 million downloads worldwide. His removal followed a mixed online reception; while some players were concerned about the focus shifting from existing characters, others reportedly disliked Valko's aesthetic and accused the China-based developers of pandering to Western audiences. Reports even surfaced of a cow dung delivery to the developer's headquarters.
Following the cancellation announcement, however, Valko unexpectedly gained a substantial following. Two prominent petitions, one on Change.org and another on iPetitions, have collectively surpassed 310,000 signatures. The Change.org petition alone has garnered over 91,000 signatures, exceeding the 75,000 signatures on a petition against PlayStation's rumored all-digital future by 2028.
Commentary on platforms like the r/LoveAndDeepspace subreddit suggests that Valko's abrupt removal may have inadvertently fueled his popularity, with the surrounding drama drawing fans to him. Despite this fervent fan campaign, Papergames appears to have made a definitive decision, having removed "Valko's Interactive Sessions" from an upcoming Anime Expo event. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of signatures, with over 300,000 gathered in approximately four days, represents a significant expression of player sentiment. The iPetitions campaign for Valko ranks among the site's most signed petitions of all time, with four of the top spots for recent signature volume on the platform currently held by Valko-related petitions.