Papergames, the developer behind the romance gacha game Love and Deepspace, has announced the permanent cancellation of a new love interest character named Valko. The decision comes just eight days after Valko's initial reveal and follows a significant wave of player backlash. Valko was originally slated to launch with Version 6.0 on July 9.
Valko, described as the EonCore Tech chairman and the mysterious head of a werewolf clan, was announced via a trailer on the game's official YouTube channel on June 22. He would have been the sixth love interest in the game, and the first new addition since Caleb was introduced in January 2025. However, the announcement was met with immediate negative reactions from the player base.
The core of the player discontent stemmed from a perceived lack of meaningful updates for existing love interests, leading to concerns that a new character would further divert development resources. Social media accounts for Love and Deepspace reportedly saw a decrease in followers and a surge of negative comments following Valko's announcement. Some reports indicated extreme protests, including the placement of cow dung in company lockers.
In response to the outcry, Papergames and publisher Infold Games issued an apology, stating, "Because of our actions, the joy you should have found in Linkon City became a source of distress, and the feelings you hold most dear were hurt. We are deeply sorry for the hurt and disappointment we have caused." The studio has confirmed that development on Valko has ceased entirely.
Beyond canceling Valko, Papergames has pledged to focus development efforts on the existing cast of characters and the main story. The developer stated that no additional love interests will be introduced in the future, a move intended to address player concerns about content prioritization. This shift in focus is expected to lead to expanded experiences with the current roster of characters.
While Valko's development is canceled, other features planned for Version 6.0 will still be implemented. Outfits, photo poses, and Nighthush Box rewards, which were intended for a Valko-focused event, will instead be distributed to all players for free. Additionally, players will receive one daily Deepspace Wish for the next 30 days, usable within the game's gacha system. Future updates will include Rafayel's new Solar-Slot Memories and Companion in July, and the return of Farspace Colonel Caleb and Onychinus Leader Sylus in their Main Story branches in September and November, respectively.
Love and Deepspace is currently available on Android and iOS devices. Version 6.0 is scheduled for release on July 9.