A vocal segment of players for the romance gacha game Love and Deepspace is petitioning developer Papergames to reinstate the character Valko, who was recently canceled prior to the game's Version 6.0 update. Valko, originally announced as the game's sixth love interest, was removed from development on June 30 following fan backlash that began shortly after his June 22 announcement.
The initial controversy stemmed from multiple player concerns. Some felt the introduction of a new character overlooked a perceived lack of substantial updates to the game's existing narrative and characters. Additionally, theories circulated that Valko's promotional materials contained problematic references, including alleged allusions to a domestic violence case and a design that some believed evoked the CEO of Papergames and its publisher Infold Games. This wave of criticism reportedly led to a significant drop in player numbers and social media followers, with some instances of extreme protest, such as packages of cow dung being sent to Papergames offices.
In response to these issues, Papergames announced the cancellation of Valko and all future love interest developments. However, this decision has since generated a new wave of dissent from a different faction of the player base, who have organized under the "bring back Valko" banner. This division appears to be largely between the Chinese player base, which largely opposed Valko's introduction, and the international player base, which is now advocating for his return.
Online campaigns to bring Valko back have gained considerable traction, with community petitions accumulating a significant number of signatures. One petition on change.org has garnered over 70,000 signatures, while another on iPetitions boasts over 150,000. Proponents of Valko's return argue that his removal signifies preferential treatment of the Chinese player base and that the character was integral to the game's narrative depth and player investment. As stated in the iPetitions post, "Global fans have made it clear that Valko matters to this story and to the people who have followed it with care. A character like this does more than fill a slot in a game. He shapes the world, the relationships, and the emotional pull that keeps players invested."
Love and Deepspace is currently available on Android and iOS devices. Version 6.0, which was originally slated to feature Valko, is scheduled for release on July 9. Papergames and Infold Games have not issued further statements regarding Valko's future in the game.