Papergames, the developer behind the gacha game Love and Deepspace, has withdrawn its event booth and panel from BilliBilli World 2026, a major anime and gaming convention in Asia. The decision comes after significant controversy surrounding the game's sixth love interest, a werewolf character named Valko. The developer stated that the game "has garnered widespread attention from all sectors of society, causing significant distress to all players and creating a negative impact."
The controversy intensified when China's Ministry of Public Security issued a statement referencing Valko's marketing campaign. The campaign featured Valko breaking into the female player character's home, which the Ministry described as potentially "promoting and glorifying illegal and criminal methods." The statement further warned that "entertainment-driven, traffic-driven creative work" that disregards public order and morality, crosses legal boundaries, and endangers public safety could face legal sanctions. The Ministry also cited a past case where a young man allegedly committed murder, claiming to seek thrills from violent video games.
This intervention from the Chinese government carries significant weight, as authorities in China have considerable influence over content permissible in video games. The Ministry's strong stance suggests that Valko's release is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Papergames' decision to cancel their convention appearance appears to be an effort to avoid further repercussions and appease both player demands and government scrutiny.
